Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Monday that a comprehensive investigation into the fire incident at the Shillong Bar Association office on Saturday will be conducted.
The preliminary findings suggest that the suspected cause of the fire is of electrical origin.
The Bar Association office, a 110-year-old wooden Assam-type building, is located adjacent to the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner’s office, along with the CJM Court, PHQ, Engineering Wing of PHQ, and other vital establishments.
Addressing the Assembly, Chief Minister Sangma provided details about the damages to the contents and properties, along with the steps taken by the concerned department during the incident.
Sangma informed the Assembly that the district magistrate of East Khasi Hills has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire incident. The police control room in Shillong received a call at 10:15 pm on February 24, reporting a fire in the Shillong Bar Association building situated behind the DC East Khasi Hills Office building.
The Barabazar F&ES Station’s 1st Turn Out was activated at 10:16 pm, followed by the 2nd Turn Out at 10:20 pm. Upon reaching the scene, it was observed that the entire building was engulfed in a raging inferno. Additional reinforcements from Shillong F&ES Station and neighboring F&ES Stations were requested.
After an urgent assessment by the IGP (F&ES), the fire was brought under control within four hours of rigorous firefighting. Six fire tenders were deployed, along with two water browsers from the Shillong Municipal Board, which contributed to the effort. Approximately 45 water tanks were utilized for firefighting. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the SOT squad, along with officials from the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), were present during the firefighting operation.
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Chief Minister Sangma mentioned that, according to a statement from the peon of the Shillong Bar Association, he observed melting and hanging electrical wiring. However, negligence on the part of the occupants could not be ruled out.
Sangma also confirmed that, according to preliminary investigations, no casualties or injuries were reported in the fire incident.
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