Maharashtra Secretariat complex,Mantralaya’, came under a major fire at 3PM today, where the offices of the chief minister, key ministers and top officials are located.
Close to two hours after it was first noticed near the cabin of Tribal Welfare Minister Babanrao Pachpute on the fourth floor, the fire continued to rage till late in the afternoon even as fire fighters battled the leaping flames.
According to Relief Works Minister Patangrao Kadam, the fire broke out due to a short circuit.
While two people have been admitted to a hospital due to suffocation, several others are still trapped inside the building.
Thick smoke was seen outside the windows of the fourth floor of the building and no causalities have been reported so far.
The offices of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary have been gutted by the fire. Chavan, it was reported, was not present in his office at the time of the incident.
According to latest reports, files related to the Adarsh Housing Society scam could also be lost in the fire.
Sixteen fire tenders were rushed to the spot and efforts have been on to douse the fire. Navy helicopters and anti-terrorist unit force one have also been rushed for the rescue operations.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary ordered immediate evacuation of the entire building, sources said.
Thousands of officials at Mantralaya, which houses the state Secretariat, were seen standing outside as fire fighters battled the blaze, which was suspected to have been caused by a short-circuit.
State Forest Minister Patang Rao said, “I am confident that all the important files will be safe and intact.”
The eyewitnesses said that the fire broke out around 3 pm and now the area has been cordoned off.
The Chronology of Fire is as Follows
- Fire breaks out at Mantralaya in Mumbai at 3pm.
- The building is located at Mumbai’s plush Nariman Point.
- Over 20 fire tenders have been rushed to the site.
- Marine commandos, Navy choppers at the site to rescue those trapped in the fire.
- Entire Mumbai fire force has been asked to rush in, fire tenders from nearby districts such as Thane have also been rushed to the site.
- Three people have been injured and have been rushed to local hospitals.
- Reports suggest the fire broke out at NCP minister Babanrao Pachpute’s office, on the fourth floor.
- The offices of Urban development and energy are also housed on the same floor.
- Interestingly, files relating to the Adarsh scam are located on this floor.
- The fire has spread to the 6th floor of the building, which houses CM Prithviraj Chavan’s office.
- A major part of the chief minister’s office has been destroyed in the fire.
- Around 25 people have been trapped in the building and efforts to rescue them are on.
- No casualties have been reported.
- People who went to remove the Indian and the State flag on the seventh floor are stuck there.
- Roads leading to Mantralaya are blocked, police trying to control the crowd.
- State forest minister Patang Rao said, “I am confident that all the important files will be safe and intact.”