Panic spread in Raipur’s Labhandi area late Saturday night after a fire erupted inside the Excise Department building, causing significant damage to official records. The blaze was reported on the third floor, where a crucial office of the Excise Corporation operates.
According to preliminary information, several important files and documents were gutted in the incident. Notably, the fire broke out in the very section where a financial audit of the corporation was scheduled to begin on Monday.
Officials said that preparations for the audit had been underway throughout the day, with frequent movement of staff and officers in the concerned section. However, the office was closed at night, and the fire reportedly started shortly thereafter.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the flames originated from the audit-related room on the third floor. By the time fire tenders reached the spot and brought the situation under control, the record room had already suffered extensive damage, with several documents completely reduced to ashes.
Initial findings point towards a possible short circuit as the cause of the fire, though authorities have not issued an official confirmation yet. On Sunday morning, teams from the police department and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) inspected the site and launched a detailed investigation.
An assessment of the losses is currently underway. The incident has raised serious concerns over fire safety measures and record protection within government offices—particularly at a time when critical financial scrutiny was about to commence.
