Imphal, April 13 : A fire inside Manipur state secretariat North Block complex today reduced a chowkidar’s quarters to ashes and partially damaged two rooms of chairperson of Manipur State Commission for OBC.
Four fire tenders fought for nearly half an hour to bring the fire, which broke out in the quarters at 11.30am, under control.
CRPF personnel guarding the complex first saw smoke billowing out of the quarters and informed the fire department. Police suspected electric short circuit as the cause of the fire.
The chowkidar, Thangin Haokip, was not present at his quarters when the fire started.
Later, Haokip told the police he had seen smoke inside his house before going out and had tried to find the source. “I saw smoke in my house and I tried to find the source but could not. I switched on the ceiling fan and the smoke seemed to disappear. Then I along with my wife and son went out. But I turned off the electric heater before I left.”
The chowkidar said nearly Rs 15,000 worth of property was destroyed in the fire.
As the fire had spread to adjoining room of chairman of Manipur Commission for OBC, H. Kaminikumar Singh, it damaged a computer set, fax machine, some documents and furniture. It also damaged furniture in the room of the chairman’s staff, adjoining the quarters.
Rural development and panchayati raj minister Md Allauddin inspected the damages caused by the fire.
“Had not the fire fighters arrived on time the fire could have spread to other buildings,” the minister said.
The police ruled out foul play as the office complex was well guarded and being a Sunday, there were no visitors.
The heat of the fire caused minor damages to an office car parked near the chowkidar’s quarters.
Md Allauddin said all the reports of the commission were stored in the computer and if the system was completely damaged the reports would be lost.
He, however, hoped that hard copies of the reports were available at the minorities department.
The North Block of the state secretariat houses offices of several ministers, secretaries and section offices of the various departments.
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