Shillong, Oct 15: The state government has ordered a magisterial probe into the fire incident in the building of Singhania family in Thana road on Saturday
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah said on Sunday that the magisterial probe into the fire incident will look into all aspects of the matter.
Chief Secretary DP Wahlang visited the site on Sunday and held a meeting with the officials.
Wahlang sought a priliminary report from the deputy commissioner.
The state witnessed record fire fighting which lasted for more than 24 hours from Saturday afternoon.Besides the fire service personnel, the army , airforce and personnel from Assam regiment centre helped the government.
Kurbah said initial reports suggest that it may be due to short circuit but a proper inquiry can only ascertain the actual cause.
The fire spread rapidly due to the blast of many cylinders.
There were many godowns in the buildings and there was an observation from an official who took part in the firefighting about lack of adequate ventilation which resulted in the death of a worker of the godown belonging to Bhajanlal.
However, the headman of the area Pappu Singhania blamed narrow roads for the delay in dousing fire.
“Roads should have been free from all street vendors and hawkers”, he added .
