Devastating fire at Maharashtra Mantralaya doused, left 2 dead, 16 injured

MUMBAI: The massive flames at the Mantralaya building which houses the state secretariat in Mumbai were doused early morning today. The top three floors of Mantralaya were completely gutted by a fire that broke out on the fourth floor yesterday.

The major fire claimed the lives of three people, one of whom is yet to be identified, 16 injured and many are still missing.

There were around 2,500 employees and 1,000 visitors in the building when the fire broke out around 2.45 pm. The employees were evacuated through emergency exits. The focus now is on the cooling operation which will take about 48 hours. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's offices also gutted with extensive damage.

According to Relief and Rehabilitation Secretary Pravin Pardeshi, 65 people trapped on the fifth and sixth floor have been evacuated by the fire-fighters.

Chavan has announced the crime branch enquiry into the incident. However, opposition leaders have sought an enquiry to find out if fire was due to sabotage.

Meanwhile, reports suggests that the urn containing Pandit Nehru ashes, kept in the sixth floor of Mantralaya, has been damaged in the incident.