Massive blaze at Maharashtra Mantralaya, 2 dead
Mumbai. At least two people were killed, 16 injured, and three missing in the massive fire that broke out at the Mantralaya on Thursday afternoon.
The fire that erupted around 2.45 pm, continued to rage more than four hours after it was first noticed on the fourth floor near the office of Tribal Welfare Minister Babanrao Pachpute, soon spreading over to the upper floors, aided by the sea breeze.
The fourth floor that houses the Urban Development department, in the eye of the Adarsh scam, and there were apprehensions that vital documents relating to the scandal might have been lost.
Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Eknath Khadse said, “We want an impartial probe from possibly fire experts from abroad. We don’t think the CBI or Crime Branch will conduct an impartial probe. We want an impartial probe by international experts.”
The death toll could go up once the fire is completely doused and firemen start inspecting the entire building. Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister, told the press that there were nearly 6,000 people inside the building when the fire started.
Unofficial estimates, however, say the number could easily be 10,000 because thousands of people land up at the Mantralaya on a weekday.
Twenty-one fire engines, 11 water tankers, along with navy and coast guard personnel, could not control the blaze almost 8-10 hours after it started in the central computer server room on the 4th floor around 2.40pm.
In the evening, the fire brigade sought the help of BPCL (Bharat Petroleum), specifically to tackle the fire on the 7th floor, as its fire engine can shoot water jets much higher than the Mantralaya. At the time of going to the press, huge flames could be seen occasionally leaping out of the 6th floor windows.
Fire officials confirmed that the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th floors of the 1955 building have been completely gutted. Amid talks of important documents and records, mainly the Adarsh files, being lost to the fire, Chavan ordered a crime branch inquiry into the incident to find the source of the fire.
He, however, scotched rumours of sabotage. “Such allegations are uncalled for. We have ordered an inquiry… Let us wait for the report instead of jumping to conclusions,” he said.
