India, Nov. 12 -- A fire broke out at the official residence of state forest minister Ganesh Naik at 11.43 am on Wednesday, sending large clouds of smoke into the air in the high-security area at Nariman Point, where the state secretariat and state legislature are also located.

The fire department says a short-circuit in the air-conditioning system is suspected to have triggered the Level I fire, which was extinguished in an hour.

Naik and his family live in Navi Mumbai and were not in the 2,668-sq ft bungalow called 'Pawangad' when the fire broke out. Only a few employees were present and none was injured.

Around seven fire engines, water tankers and quick response vehicles - compact, minivan-sized vehicles with 500-litre water tanks ...