Bhopal: Why Rs 5.5 Crore Hydraulic Ladder Was Not Used To Douse Fire At Satpura Bhawan?

The massive fire that broke out at Bhopal's Satpura Bhawan, which houses offices of various departments of the Madhya Pradesh government, on Monday gutted furniture worth Rs 25 crore and more than 12,000 important files, India Today reported.

As the building houses offices of various departments of the Madhya Pradesh government, it prompted authorities to call in fire tenders from the Army, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and facilities of oil companies, officials and the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

However, what has surprised many is the government's inability to use an advanced fire-fighting hydraulic ladder, worth Rs 5.5 crore which was bought nine months ago amid much fanfare.

The ladder could be used to firefight up to 18 storeys high, but it remained unused when the state witnessed one of the biggest fire accidents in recent years, NDTV reported. The reason why it cannot be deployed was that the fire-fighting ladder had not received clearance from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and due to a lack of qualified personnel to use the ladder.

Although four to five individuals had received training to operate the new hydraulic ladder, sources indicated that none of them were present at the time of the fire outbreak.

The fire started on the third floor around 4 pm spread to the fourth, fifth and the top sixth floor of the building and 22 fire tenders and 30-40 tankers were involved in the dousing operation, officials said.

The affected building is located on a hill in front of the state government secretariat, Vallabh Bhawan.

"As per prima facie information and people present at the spot informed that the blaze erupted on the third floor of the building due to a short circuit in an air conditioner and raged to other floors due to wind," said Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra.

Why Hydraulic Ladder Was Unused? Here's What Govt Says
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra said, "There was no space for the hydraulic machine to pass. A parking area has been built there, blocking the way. Just this morning, Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan has ordered that arrangements must be made to ensure enough space in big buildings (for fire-fighting vehicles to enter)."

Prior to the acquisition of the hydraulic ladder, the fire brigade relied on step ladders and machines with a limited reach of three to four storeys. The same ladders were used in Monday's operation.

Meanwhile, Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has formed a committee of senior bureaucrats to probe the possible reasons behind the fire.