ISLAMABAD: Tarnol police station escaped disaster on Thursday when fire broke out in its Malkhana (store) but it was extinguished before it could reach low grade explosives and hand grenades kept there, police said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tahir Alam Khan has ordered an inquiry into the incident to establish whether it was a deliberate attempt to wash some evidence or an accident.

The IGP has asked SP Saddar retired Capt Mohammad Ilyas to conduct the inquiry and submit his findings as soon as possible.

The officials said at around 7am, a naib moharrar of the police station opened the Malkhana to pick up weapons used in a crime to produce in court.

`After taking the weapons the Malkhana was properly locked and the evidence was handed over to investigators,` the police sources said, adding that at around 8am a policeman informed the naib moharrar that smoke was rising from the store.

They immediately opened the door and found the Malkhana engulfed in smoke.

Later, they found cotton on fire, which was extinguished after some efforts.

`The reason behind eruption of fire is yet to be established,` the police officials said.