A fire, triggered by an electrical short circuit, severely damaged the meeting room of the Fisheries Department office in Malpe on Monday night. The fire, which started from an exploded air conditioner, destroyed all the documents stored in the room and caused extensive damage to office furniture and equipment.
The incident came to light on Tuesday morning when the office was opened. Firefighters were called to extinguish the smouldering remains of the fire. In addition to the documents, items such as fans, chairs, tables, partition walls, life jackets, and lifebuoys were consumed by the flames.
Officials stated that had the fire spread to the adjoining rooms, it could have engulfed the entire building. Thick smoke filled the rooms, and the walls were left blackened by soot. The estimated loss from the fire is around Rs 4 lakh. A formal complaint regarding the incident has been filed with the Malpe police station.
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