Income Tax bulding catches fire in Delhi, official suffocates to death, seven rescued
A 46-year-old IT office superintendent was found unconscious and declared dead on arrival at the hospital
New Delhi, May 15
One I-T official dead while seven were rescued from a massive fire that broke out in the Income Tax building in Delhi.
A 46-year-old man was found unconscious and later declared dead at the hospital. He was working as an office superintendent.
The police received a PCR call regarding the fire inside the CR (Central Revenue) building, which also houses the Income Tax office on May 14 afternoon.
A team of officials from the Fire Department and the Delhi Police rushed to the site, and brought the fire under control.
The fire and emergency services officials stated that the fire broke out on the third floor. Most employees managed to get out through the exit points. A room with the AC had caught fire due to short circuit that was extinguished. Seven persons were trapped near windows waiting to find a way out, the victims were brought down with the help of a ladder. About 100 firefighters doused the blaze and rescued the trapped persons.
The Income Tax department issued a statement, "The fire broke out inside room no. 325 and the one adjoining to it, which was primarily used for administrative purposes. Immediate evacuation was carried out, and the fire brigade were promptly called in… no physical records were damaged. There was no data loss pertaining to taxpayers as all Income Tax returns are being filed online, along with all related proceedings,” it said, adding that although the fire was brought under control, “the cause is still being ascertained”.
“Unfortunately, an office superintendent was trapped due to the smoke and lost his life, despite best efforts to save him,” added the IT department.
