Vallabh Bhawan up in flames!

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday morning, a massive fire broke out at the Vallabh Bhawan, the Secretariat in the State capital, on the third floor of the old ministry building. The inferno, which started around 9:30 am, took nearly 60 fire tenders and about 5 hours of relentless effort to bring under control. Reportedly, some sanitation workers near gates 5 and 6 noticed smoke coming out from the building and hence they alerted the authorities The situation escalated rapidly due to strong winds, causing the fire to spread to the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of the building. Vallabh Bhawan is the workplace of State Government’s top administrative officers. The fire, initially reported on the third floor of Vallabh Bhawan, prompted a swift response from fire-fighters and police. Despite deploying four firefighting units initially, the intensity of the flames increased rapidly, engulfing the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors. Efforts to contain the blaze were intensified with reinforcements from BHEL, EME Centre Bairagarh, and the Bhopal Airport fire services.

 

The challenges faced by the fire-fighters were compounded by the strong winds, which hampered their attempts to control the fire on the upper floors. Unfortunately, the fire’s ferocity resulted in significant damage to the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of the ministry building. Amid the chaos, several employees were successfully evacuated from the trapped areas by the firefighting teams and no casualties are reported till now. The fire broke out on Saturday around 9:30 am, 38 hours after the ministry had closed for an extended weekend due to Mahashivratri and International Women’s Day. Questions have arisen regarding how a fire could erupt after the office remained closed for such an extended period. Top officials, including the Chief Secretary and other department heads, rushed to the scene following directives from Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. The Chief Minister emphasised the need for a thorough investigation in the causes of the fire and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

 

Meanwhile, allegations of political corruption surfaced as State Congress Party President Jitu Patwari accused the BJP government of deliberately destroying files related to corruption ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Patwari claimed that this was the fifth time Vallabh Bhawan had been up in flames, and simultaneously he raised concerns about the preservation of democracy. The fire brigade officials reported that furniture and electronic equipment has been severely damaged due to the fire, and the extent of the damage to different departments is yet to be ascertained. Chief Minister Yadav has ordered a comprehensive inquiry in the incident, emphasising the importance of preventing a recurrence of such a catastrophic event. As investigation unfolds, concerns regarding the safety protocols during the closure period and the potential loss of critical documents and records within the Secretariat have gained prominence. The incident underscores the imperative for a comprehensive review of the fire safety measures and emergency response protocols in Government buildings.