Bengaluru
Recent developments indicate that Group D staff members are likely to face responsibility for the tragic fire incident that occurred last month at the BBMP headquarters, resulting in the unfortunate demise of Chief Engineer CM Shivakumar and injuries to eight others. Both police and corporation sources have suggested this possibility. The fire broke out in the corporation’s quality assurance laboratory, prompting an immediate police complaint and investigation. According to a senior Central Division police officer, preliminary findings suggest that the mishap can be traced back to a Group D worker who was handling flammable chemicals at the time, and it was his negligence that contributed to the fire disaster. The officer emphasized that Group D personnel should not have been assigned this task, but some staff members contend that they were acting on the instructions of their superiors. Police intend to gather statements from the injured individuals once they have fully recovered, and these will be included in the investigative report. Additionally, a BBMP official from the engineering department revealed that the report filed by BBMP Engineer-in-Chief BS Prahlad also points to the negligence of officials working on the laboratory’s ground floor as a contributing factor to the fire disaster. Further insights into the chemical elements present in the laboratory will be provided by Anjanappa, a chemical expert from RV Engineering College. The BBMP is set to submit its comprehensive report to the state government on September 15. An internal BBMP inquiry has also reportedly concluded that the negligence of a Group D worker played a significant role in the fire incident. To recap the events, on August 11, a fire erupted in the laboratory around 5 pm, resulting in serious injuries to nine individuals.
