BHOPAL: Smoke clung to the burnt out husk of Bhopal’s Satpura Bhawan on Tuesday. Water dripped from soot-blackened walls, reminding of the 16-hour battle against an inferno. Even at night, smoke swirled up from the cinders – along with questions and allegations regarding the blaze that turned thousands of files to ashes. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked for the probe report to be submitted in three days, even as the opposition Congress alleged a conspiracy and demanded an investigation by an ‘independent agency’ or sitting high court judges.
The fire that started at 4pm on Monday raged until Tuesday morning. At 8am, officials announced that the fire was finally out but thick smoke kept billowing out. Army and Air Force personnel had led the firefight along with teams from NDRF, SDRF, BHEL, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, the airport and nearby industrial areas. Questions are being asked why the administration couldn’t put out the blaze, necessitating Army intervention, and whether the building had enough fire safety measures. These questions are expected to be answered by the committee set up by the CM. Panel members began their probe on Tuesday, inspecting the building, along with officials from electrical safety, E&M department of PWD and forensic experts. A dozen samples were collected for forensic tests, said additional chief secretary, home, Rajesh Rajora.
The fire that started at 4pm on Monday raged until Tuesday morning. At 8am, officials announced that the fire was finally out but thick smoke kept billowing out. Army and Air Force personnel had led the firefight along with teams from NDRF, SDRF, BHEL, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, the airport and nearby industrial areas. Questions are being asked why the administration couldn’t put out the blaze, necessitating Army intervention, and whether the building had enough fire safety measures. These questions are expected to be answered by the committee set up by the CM. Panel members began their probe on Tuesday, inspecting the building, along with officials from electrical safety, E&M department of PWD and forensic experts. A dozen samples were collected for forensic tests, said additional chief secretary, home, Rajesh Rajora.
