The fire broke out at the general administration department of the secretariat in Thiruvanathapuram.

The state Congress and the BJP on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram after a fire broke out at the general administration department of the secretariat at around 4:45 PM. The opposition parties alleged that the fire was not an accident but “a conspiracy to destroy evidence related to the gold smuggling case”.

Demanding a thorough probe BJP state president K Surendran, who was arrested by the state police following the protest said, “the incident took place when the probe into the gold smuggling case reached the Public Administration Department. This is a serious matter. The fire was not an accident,” said K Surendran

According to reports, the fire started at the Protocol office that is under the NIA scanner in the gold smuggling case. The protocol section operates on the second floor of the North Sandwich building.

The fire was brought under control after firefighters were rushed to the spot and no casualties were reported. However, some files, documents and computers were burned in the blaze. Read in Malayalam 

The burnt files retrieved after the fire at the Kerala secretariat complex.

Holding Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responsible for the fire, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala  said, “very important files regarding the gold smuggling case have been completely destroyed. No backup file is available. This is a suspicious case. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is responsible for this.”

According to P.Honey Additional Secretary, Public Administration, the fire was caused by a short circuit in the computer.

“Only a few files related to rest house bookings were partially burnt. All important files are in e-file format. There is a system to recover such files even if the computer burns down. There have been similar incidents before due to short circuit. Attempts to extinguish the blaze began as soon as it broke out. There is no emergency now, ”said P. Honey.

#Kerala Fire at state secretariat complex at general administration department. Fire brought under control. The section, where fire broke out, close to protocol section, which is under NIA scanner in gold smuggling case. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/qQHQbStdK9

— shaju philip (@shajuexpress) August 25, 2020

Chief Secretary Biswas Mehta, who was attending a meeting at the secretariat at the time of the fire, said the fire would be thoroughly investigated.