Old office structure of Fisheries Dept gutted
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2021: Important files of the Directorate of Fisheries are said to have been reduced to ashes as the old office structure of the department was gutted by a fire which broke out at around 3.10 am today.

Laimayum Robindro, chowkidar of the office complex, said that he came to know about the fire in the old structure when personnel of 143 Battalion CRPF located adjacent to the complex on the northern side alerted the locals by blowing whistles.

When he and his family members went out, they found out that the rooms of the southern part of the old structure were under fire which was spreading rapidly to other parts and subsequently informed Manipur Fire service, he said.

Personnel of 143 Battalion CRPF and other locals tried to put off the fire by using water tankers before Manipur Fire Service personnel arrived at the spot 30 minutes later and reinforced the locals and CRPF personnel in fire fighting.

Around 5 fire tenders of Manipur Fire Service were used to control the fire and it took nearly 5 hours to put it off completely, he said.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Additional Director of Fisheries Khamsing Ahum stated that the old office structure of the office was totally gutted by the fire.

There were altogether 12 sections in the old structure including sections of National Fisheries Development Board, Establishment Section, Pension Cell, Training Section and others, the Addl Director said.

Tables, chairs, steel almirah where important files and documents of the office were kept were also totally gutted by the fire, he said while adding that he was not able to estimate the total value lost due to the fire for the time being.

He continued that no damage has been caused to the new building which is adjacent to the old structure and where chambers of Director of Fisheries, Additional Director and Joint Director are located.

Y Rajesh, Head Clerk, in the meantime stated that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be established.

A team of Lamphel police also visited the spot where the fire broke out and registered a case to investigate the incident.

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