BENGALURU: A major fire broke out in the quality control laboratory of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at its headquarters on Friday evening, leaving seven employees with serious burn injuries when stocked benzene burst into flames. Some others, including BBMP chief engineer Shivakumar sustained minor injuries.
The Fire and Emergency Services personnel arrived on the scene after a while and put out the fire. The injured were first rushed to St Martha’s Hospital where they were provided first aid and then shifted to Victoria Hospital for treament of the burn injuries.
The staff were conducting checks on samples of asphalt when it suddenly exploded, leaving them coverd in soot. The employees suffered injuries in the face and torso. Of the injured, four are said to be in a critical condition.
Palike Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, who rushed to the hospital, said they were focusing on saving the lives of the staff and that the damage at the lab will be assessed later. Deputy Commissioner of Police Srinivas Gowda R too rushed to the scene.
Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Satish Kumar said the fire broke out when the staff were conducting tests using benzene. “One of the ovens burst when they were conducting test. Investigation will reveal the cause of the fire”, he said.
The police had barricaded the quality control lab where the fire broke out and power supply had been disconnected. The Halasur Gate police have registered cases under Sections 335 and 336 of IPC.
With the state government having ordered a probe into all works taken up by the BBMP since 2019, the staff were conducting tests in the lab, it is said. Four teams headed by IAS officers are investigating all works taken up during the tenure of the previous BJP government.
Also, the Lokayukta police are investigating some fake documents related to works taken up RR Nagar zone and had directed the BBMP to produce proper documents. The fire incident, therefore, has given rise to numerous suspicions.
The record room is right next to the lab where the fire broke out, but luckily, there was no damage to it. The CCTV next to the record room was not working, police said.
Instances of BBMP records being destroyed in fire is not new. In November 2011, a majore fire had broken out in the third floor of the annexe building, housing the BMTF office, destroying documents related works worth Rs 1,539 crore in which corruption was alleged.
Files related to works undertaken between2008 and 2010, in which corruption was alleged, were destroyed in the incident.