The district officials said that the auditorium, Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagruha, which stood as a symbol of arts and drama in Kolhapur, was gutted in the blaze that broke out on Thursday night, reported PTI.

The auditorium was built by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj in 1915.

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According to the district administration, a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the Kolhapur fire.

"The fire erupted around 9.45 pm on Thursday. Following the call, fire tenders and water tankers were rushed to the site and attempts were made to douse the flames," a fire brigade official said, reported PTI.

Hasan Mushrif, the guardian minister of Kolhapur, later visited the spot and said an inquiry would be conducted.

He said, "It is unfortunate that the auditorium, which was built by Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj 109 years ago, was gutted in a fire. No one could have imagined that the auditorium would be destroyed like this," reported PTI.

The auditorium had been renovated after the state government granted Rs 10 crore for the work, he said.

"An inquiry will be conducted into the incident," Mushrif said, reported PTI.

In another incident, a fire broke out after a blast due to a suspected gas leak inside a restaurant at Amar Colony in southeast Delhi, officials said. No one was injured in the incident, officials said, reported PTI.

A call about the incident was received at 7.10 am and three fire tenders were pressed into service, a Delhi Fire Service official said.

"It is suspected that a blast took place due to leakage of gas inside the kitchen," the official said, reported PTI.

The impact of the blast was such that it glasses of the restaurant were shattered, he said, reported PTI.

The official added that the fire was controlled within half an hour, reported PTI.

Police were also inspecting the fire incident.

(With inputs from PTI)