Bhopal Fire: Over 12,000 Key Government Files Gutted, Covid Payment Records Lost

Bhopal: A massive fire broke out in Satpura Bhawan, a six-storey government building in Bhopal, causing significant damage. Furniture worth Rs 25 crore and over 12,000 important files were reportedly gutted in the blaze. The fire started on the third floor and quickly spread to the upper floors.

This incident marks the third time a fire has occurred in Satpura Bhawan, with previous fires happening in 2012 and 2018, both preceding the state Assembly elections.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, although initial reports suggest it may have been triggered by a blast in an air conditioner. Firefighters and army experts were called in to control the blaze, which took nearly 12 hours to extinguish. While the opposition Congress party alleged a conspiracy behind the fire, the ruling BJP government in Madhya Pradesh maintained that no sensitive files were destroyed.

Satpura Bhawan houses various government departments, including Tribal Affairs, Health, Forest, Chief Minister Monitoring Case, Public Grievances, and National Information System. Unfortunately, service records, complaint documents, and budget accounting documents of employees on the affected floors were reduced to ashes. Additionally, files related to complaints in the Health and Family Welfare Department and documents concerning payments to hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic were also lost.

However, files related to tenders and medicines, as well as hospital equipment and furniture, were unaffected as they were stored on the second floor. The state government clarified that critical documents were not kept in the affected office areas and stated that the establishment documents of the departments were located in a separate wing of the commissioner’s office.

To investigate the cause of the fire, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has formed a committee. The committee includes officials from the Home, Urban, and Public Works Departments, along with the ADG Fire. Their findings will be submitted to the chief minister.