20230612 Massive fire breaks out in 6-storey building housing MP govt offices in Bhopal, no casualties; IAF plane may join dousing operation
India Jun 12 2023 “Apartment houses” “Building”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Massive fire breaks out in 6-storey building housing MP govt offices in Bhopal, no casualties; IAF plane may join dousing operation
Updated: 2023-06-12
BHOPAL: A major fire broke out on Monday on the third floor of Satpura Bhawan in Bhopal, which houses offices of various departments of the Madhya Pradesh government.
The incident prompted authorities to request assistance from the Army, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and oil companies for additional fire tenders.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated that an Indian Air Force plane and an MI-15 helicopter may also be deployed for firefighting operations during the night. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported thus far, despite the blaze raging since 4 pm.The fire has now spread to the top sixth floor of the building and the terrace, causing it to be visible from different parts of the city. Satpura Bhawan is situated on a hill in front of the state government secretariat, Vallabh Bhawan.
Fire tenders and firefighters from the Army, India Oil Corporation, BPCL, Airports Authority of India, BHEL, and from Mandideep and Raisen were called in, the Chief Minister’s Office said.
The CMO said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh seeking help from the Air Force and was assured that the AN-32 plane and MI-15 helicopter will reach Bhopal at night and help in dousing fire by pouring water from the above.
Chouhan also spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought help, the CMO said.
District collector Ashish Singh said all resources have been mobilised and around 22 fire tenders and 30-40 tankers are involved in the dousing operation as of now.
He said the fire spread as there are many files stored in the building and firemen can’t enter due to heavy smoke.
The density of the fire is very high. No casualty has been reported, Singh added.
“As per prima facie information and people present at the spot informed that the blaze erupted on the third floor of the building due to a short circuit in an air conditioner and raged to other floors due to wind,” said Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra.
Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s Fire Officer Ramesh Neel said the blaze erupted at around 4 pm.
“Furniture and documents are prima facie destroyed in the fire,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state government has formed a committee of senior bureaucrats to probe the possible reasons behind the fire.
The panel includes the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary (Urban Administration), Principal Secretary (PWD) and Additional Director General (Fire), the CMO said.
Meanwhile, Arera Hills police station incharge RK Singh said the blaze engulfed furniture and documents in the departments of tribal welfare and health located inside the building.
He claimed the blaze in most parts of the building has been controlled.
Web Source: The Times of India