2,000 fish, 39 birds perish in fire at Zirakpur pet shop

• Nearly 2,000 fish and 39 birds were killed after a fire broke out at a pet shop in Zirakpur on Sunday night.
• The flames at Gold Pet Shop were first noticed around 2.30am by a driver, who informed the staff of a nearby hotel.
• The staff sounded the shop owner, Sandeep Kumar, who was in Dehradun. Sandeep further alerted the fire brigade and his cousin who rushed to the scene.
• By the time, fire trucks reached the spot around 3.30am, the entire shop was gutted and the pets housed in it were dead.
• Sandeep said around 2,000 fish, 35 cockatiel parrots, four white pigeons and a rabbit were killed in the blaze.
• “A short-circuit caused the fire. When the shutter was opened electricity sparks were noticed,” said Sandeep, who reached the shop from Dehradun on Monday morning.
• Running the pet shop for the last 13 years, Sandeep said due to the weekend lockdown, he had taken most of the birds back home, so they were saved. A few fish were also rescued with the help of water drums.
• Apart from the animals lost, Sandeep said he suffered a loss of around ₹14 lakh due to damage to the stored kennels, bird cages, fish aquariums, animal food and other articles.