The blaze erupted between 8 and 8.30 pm in the storeroom adjacent to the DEO office, housed in a nearly 100-year-old building. Flames spread rapidly, gutting documents related to scholarships, mid-day meal schemes, staff appointments, school recognition and grants. Fire tenders reached the site within 20 minutes, but the fire continued well into the night before being brought under control.
Two days after the incident, the office is still not fully operational, with staff working in poor lighting conditions. A three-member state-level inquiry committee has been constituted to determine the exact cause of the fire. Preliminary assessments by officials point to a short circuit, though investigators have not ruled out other possibilities.
District Education Officer Himanshu said the initial findings indicate an electrical fault. “Data recovery has begun. Information related to scholarships and the mid-day meal scheme is available online and can be retrieved. However, records prior to 2008 were largely in physical form and were not fully digitised, making complete recovery unlikely,” he said.
Officials confirmed that at least 23 steel almirahs containing around 150 files were reduced to ashes. Several computers, laptops and electronic devices were also damaged, though hard disks from some systems have been recovered. Records related to Inspire Awards, finance, budget allocations, grants, madrasa affairs and legal matters were among those destroyed. The stock register was also lost, making it difficult to assess the full extent of material damage.
The incident has drawn attention to long-standing safety concerns. The ageing building reportedly lacked basic fire safety arrangements. Sources said the local administration had flagged the risk multiple times and the DEO office had submitted a proposal to the education department seeking approval for a new building. The proposal, however, remained pending.
Following the fire, the old structure has been completely demolished. Officials indicated that efforts are now underway to fast-track the long-delayed building proposal.
Kotwali police sealed parts of the site, and a forensic team visited the office on Sunday, though heavy smoke hindered a full examination. Police have not ruled out sabotage and are investigating all angles. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Public Instruction has ordered a departmental inquiry, with the three-member committee directed to submit its report within five days.
Relief operations continued overnight, and authorities confirmed there was no loss of life. The investigation will also assess accountability for the absence of fire safety measures and potential administrative negligence.
