Breaking: Fire Razes Popular Lounge in Taraba
By Chuwang Dungs, Jalingo
An inferno on Tuesday afternoon razed down a multi-billion Naira Duchess Lounge, in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
The lounge is one of the best in the state fully equipped with functional facilities like accommodation, club, conference centers, restaurant, bar and swimming pool among other services.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS correspondent, who visited the scene reports that the fire which lasted for about three hours was later brought under control by firefighters.
The cause of the fire was not yet ascertained, but eyewitnesses suggested that it may have started as a result of sudden power surge and made worse by the weather.
The entire first floor comprising the general club, VIP and VVIP sections were all burnt to ashes with all the furniture and sound systems.
The owner of the lounge and former Speaker of the State House of Assembly Joseph Kunini, told our correspondent that the place just underwent a comprehensive overhauling preparatory for the third anniversary on 30 of December.
“It is a sad development and a huge loss but we thank God that no life was lost. You know that we just did a complete overhaul of the place and changed the furniture ahead of our third anniversary this December,” Mr Kunini said.
The manager of the place, Desmond Wee, said when the fire started, he immediately called the fire services but they only arrived three hours later after the damage was already done.
Efforts to speak with officials of the federal and state fire service departments proof abortive.
