Massive blaze at govt building in Bhopal doused as Air Force, Army join firefighting operation

A massive fire that broke out at Bhopal’s Satpura Bhawan, in which several government offices are located, was extinguished on Tuesday morning after a nearly 14-hour firefighting operation involving the Indian Air Force, Army, CISF and local authorities.

Indian Air Force’s AN-32 plane and MI-15 helicopter joined the fire-fighting operation during the night and poured water from above to douse the massive blaze.

The fire is reported to have started around 4 pm from the third floor of the government building, housing the office of the Tribal Welfare Department, from where it spread quickly to three upper floors. As the raging inferno came in contact with air conditioners and some gas cylinders, there were multiple blasts. Files of offices including that of the health department are reported to have been destroyed in the fire.

The reason for the fire is suspected to be a short circuit in an AC. As the fire spread, all the officers and employees in the department were taken out safely in time, due to which no casualty occurred.

“Primarily it has come to the fore that the cause of the fire is due to a short circuit, but a team of experts has been formed to investigate it,” Bhopal Commissioner of Police Harinarayanachari Mishra told news agency ANI.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah about the fire and sought assistance for fighting the blaze.