A fire erupted on Monday morning in the town planning department on the fourth floor of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters in Panchpakhadi, raising concerns over the safety of critical civic records. The blaze, which is believed to have damaged several computers and documents containing crucial information, prompted sharp reactions from political parties. Civic authorities had not disclosed the full extent of the losses until late evening, but viral videos showed stacks of partially burnt and water-soaked files being moved and stored across rooms on the affected floor, fueling suspicions.
Cause of the Fire
According to a senior civic official, the fire was reported around 8 am and is suspected to have been triggered by overheating of a UPS system connected to a computer that had been accidentally left switched on since Friday. TMC chief fire officer Girish Jhalke stated, "The fire was confined to a limited section of the department, and no injuries were reported as the incident occurred before office hours. Normal office operations resumed after safety checks." He added that a detailed report would clarify the exact cause of the incident.
Political Reactions and Demands
The incident triggered sharp reactions from political parties, particularly because the department houses crucial records related to building approvals, sanctions, and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). Opposition leaders questioned whether the blaze was accidental or deliberate, citing ongoing investigations involving several planning-related files.
- BJP corporator Narayan Pawar demanded a complete disclosure of all files and records damaged or missing in the fire. He noted that several TDR approvals and planning documents are currently under scrutiny by the CBI, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and even the High Court. The department had previously been in the news for a massive Rs 2,800 crore TDR allotment deal. "Despite earlier concerns raised about fire risks, preventive measures were never taken. The administration must reveal details of the fire audit status of the headquarters and the CCTVs must also be examined to rule out foul play," he said.
- NCP (SP) Thane district president Manoj Pradhan and corporator Yasin Qureshi sought an independent assessment of the incident by a third-party agency and details of fire safety audits for all TMC-owned buildings.
- Shiv Sena (UBT) district chief Kedar Dighe urged caution against prematurely attributing the incident to a short circuit and demanded that digital backups of critical records be made public if the administration claims that important files remain secure.
The fire has reignited debates over the safety of civic records and the adequacy of fire prevention measures at the TMC headquarters. As investigations continue, political parties are pressing for transparency and accountability.
