A devastating fire on Sunday completely destroyed the office of the Irrigation Department's Lower Ganga Canal Block in Etawah division, consuming the building and wiping out nearly half a century of invaluable official records. The blaze, which officials believe may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, was brought under control only after a prolonged battle by fire brigade teams.
Office Reduced to Ashes Overnight
The incident occurred while the office was closed for the weekly holiday. The fire remained undetected until early Monday morning, when local residents spotted smoke and flames billowing from the premises. An alert was sent to the fire department around 6:30 am, prompting an immediate response. Three fire tenders were dispatched to the scene to combat the rapidly spreading flames.
Firefighters engaged in a grueling, hours-long operation, employing continuous water pumping to finally subdue the inferno. However, by the time the fire was brought under control, the damage was already catastrophic. The entire structure was gutted, and its contents were reduced to ashes.
Irreplaceable Historical Data Lost
The most significant loss from the fire is the destruction of thousands of critical files and documents. These records, accumulated over nearly 50 years, included vital service records and personal documents pertaining to officers and employees of the department. This loss represents an irreplaceable chunk of the department's administrative history and memory.
"I had come for my morning walk around 5.30 am when I received information about the fire. I immediately informed the officials," stated the department's watchman, who was among the first to raise the alarm.
Investigation Launched, Staff Reacts
While initial reports point towards a possible short circuit as the cause of the fire, authorities have emphasized that a detailed investigation is currently underway to pinpoint the exact reason behind the tragedy.
Employees of the irrigation department expressed deep distress over the loss. Kamlesh Kumar, a department employee, highlighted the severity of the situation, confirming that old and crucial staff-related records had been entirely destroyed.
A fire brigade official noted that their teams acted with promptness upon receiving the alert and managed to control the blaze through sustained and determined efforts, preventing it from spreading to adjacent areas.
The incident has raised serious questions about fire safety protocols and the preservation of critical government documents in aging administrative buildings.
