Several important files were damaged as a fire broke out in the Home Department in the State secretariat here on Monday.
Employees detected the fire in the department’s store room at around 10.50 a.m. and immediately informed the fire service. Firemen took 20 minutes to extinguish the fire. Two fire brigades were deployed on the spot. As files were stacked in a small room, it was difficult for the firemen to separate files from the razing pile. However, after first round of water spray, the firemen entered the store room located at the ground floor and started throwing half-burnt files out in the open.
A senior Deptt. officer said extent of loss cannot be assessed immediately as part of store room was used for stocking office stationary.
