CANACONA
About 50 mutation files were destroyed in a fire at the Canacona Mamlatdar’s office early Tuesday morning, but the earlier than usual arrival of the staff on account of Sagar Kavach duty helped detect the fire early and prevent further loss of important files and documents.
Speaking to reporters, Canacona Mamlatdar Manoj Korgaonkar said the fire apparently started due to a short circuit at about 4 am on Tuesday.
“My staff had arrived early on Sagar Kavach duty and when they opened the office, they noticed smoke from one of the offices where the data operator sits on the ground floor of the Dy Collectorate complex, which also houses the Mamlatdar office,” said Korgaonkar.
“They became alert and swiftly removed some bundles of files to prevent them from being destroyed in the fire. They contacted me at about 6 am and the Canacona fire station was notified.”
“However, by then 50 old, settled/disposed mutation files, 1 fan and 2 tables were destroyed in the fire, but the staff managed to save many important files due to their timely intervention. We have an inventory of the files in the office. A short-circuit could be the reason behind the fire, Korgaonkar added.
The mamlatdar said the fire was stopped before it could spread to other important and sensitive files in the office.
A fire tender reached the site and extinguished the fire within minutes, he added.
Meanwhile, there have been speculations on whether the fire was accidental or had been deliberate to destroy records and files in the office.
