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Mystery on fire in varsity deepens

BERHAMPUR: Mystery related to the fire in the confidential section of the Examination Department of Berhampur University has deepened following reports that hint that the fire may be manmade.

On November 2 at around 7.30 p.m. a fire was reported from the ‘examination confidential professional unit’ located in the administrative block of the university. The university authorities had to take the help of the fire brigade to put out this major fire that destroyed several major documents stored in the key confidential section of the university.

Although it was claimed that the fire may have been caused by short circuit, the fire officials in their report had expressed doubts over the chances of short circuit.

The university authorities had therefore approached the ‘electrical inspector’ of the State government posted in Berhampur to enquire into the claims of short circuit to be the reason behind fire.

In its investigation report furnished to the university authorities, the electrical inspector has also put doubt on short circuit to be the reason behind the fire, said the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Bijay Kumar Sahu.

Speaking to The Hindu Prof. Sahu said he has therefore ordered for a police enquiry into this fire incident.

Meanwhile, on Monday the sealed up room where the fire had occurred was opened up in the presence of a magistrate deputed by the Berhampur Sub-Collector.

The university management had approached the Sub-Collector for it. A five member internal committee of the university took a detailed note of the remnants in the fire ravaged room in the presence of the magistrate. Mr. Sahu had formed this internal committee to make an independent enquiry into this fire accident .

The reports of the police investigation and enquiry of the internal committee would ascertain whether the fire was manmade or it was an accident.

They would also try to ascertain the persons behind the fire if it was manmade as suspected.

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