Major fire at Maharashtra state secretariat, govt rules out sabotage

30 fire tenders deployed, no casualties reported yet

A massive fire broke out at Maharashtra's state secretariat, Mantralaya. No casualties were reported so far though five persons, who have been evacuated, have been hospitalised one of them in the ICU for suffocation. The offices of chief minister, deputy chief minister, chief secretary and couple of ministers and secretaries have been gutted by the fire. Incidentally, the office of disaster management cell and control room were also gutted by the fire.

State rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam informed reporters that the fire broke out due to a short circuit at the joint secretary's office situated on the fourth floor.The fire gripped the fourth, fifth and sixth storeys and the roof of some of the offices were ripped off. The state government has ruled out sabotage though the people around the venue were quite unanimous that it was a sabotage to clear important files including that of Adarsh scam. However, Central Bureau of Investigation immediately came out with a release saying that all crucial files regarding Adarsh scam were in safe custody.

 

More than 30 fire tenders including those requisitioned from the private and public sector companies were pressed into service and so far about 60 per cent of the fire has been brought under control. However, the officials of the state government and fire department said that it would take more than five hours to completely put it out.  However, a government official, who did not wish to be identified, said that it was quite sad that despite pressing the fire alarm immediately after the fire broke, it took 25 minutes for the first fire tender and concerned personnel to reach Mantralaya. By that time, the fire had spread.

The fire began on the fourth floor of the building at around 2:45 pm and reached the sixth floor where Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's office is located. Chavan told Business Standard that it was a major fire but all efforts were being made to bring it under control. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who accompanied Chavan, near Mantralaya announced that all the offices from Mantralaya would shift temporarily to the state legislature situated across the road from Friday.

According to the government official, Mantralaya houses nearly 5,000 employees and there are many daily visitors too. Approximately 200-300 people were inside the seven-storey building when the fire broke out. Cranes were used to bring people down to safety. Force One, Maharashtra's elite security force, and city police's Quick Response Team were also called in for help. Mumbai fire brigade has announced 'brigade call' - this means every fireman and fire engine has to report to the fire spot. Oxygen vans have also been sent to the spot for the people who have been rescued.

Smoke from the fire also spread to the Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST railway station), about four kilometres away from the fire spot. Smoke is also visible from Marine Drive.

All roads to the Mantralaya from Flora Fountain and Churchgate were blocked. The JJ Flyover near CST railway station was also closed to civilian traffic.