On Friday night at 9:30pm, people residing near the Sri Krishna School were shocked to see smoke coming out of its second floor window. It was emerging out of a cupboard filled with books.

They managed to put out the fire without the help of the two fire engines that rushed to the spot.

But it was unnerving experience. Only last week, a devastating fire in the school had left 93 children dead.

The origin of the latest fire is shrouded in mystery. There is no electricity in the school, which ruled out a short circuit; it does not appear plausible that the fire was smouldering for a week.

After the fire, books, bags and furniture were strewn all over the place. It was a total mess, which has not been cleared.
The police are awaiting a nod from the forensic department, which is in charge of collecting evidence from the site. The books and other material will then be sealed in boxes and placed in safe custody.

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Thanjavur Collector Dr J Radhakrishnan visited the school on Friday night and was there till 1:30am. He told rediff.com that the cause of Friday's fire is not yet known though from what 'one of the nearby residents said, it looked like smoke from burning camphor'.

Incidentally, since the fire on July 16, the school is guarded by the police round the clock.