Fire in circuit house triggers evacuation, safety review
A blaze that began in room No. 3 of the Gaya circuit house on Wednesday afternoon forced the evacuation of a senior Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official and his wife, local authorities said. There were no casualties, but the incident has prompted immediate scrutiny of the building’s electrical systems and maintenance arrangements.
Manoj Kumar, identified in official records as a director in the Union ministry of external affairs, was staying in an adjoining room No. 2 with his wife when the incident occurred. Kumar had originally been allotted room No. 3 but had taken the neighbouring room before the blast, police said. He first heard a loud sound and, on smelling burning, found the corridor filled with smoke.
- Three fire tenders responded and took about an hour to bring the blaze under control, according to the Rampur police.
- No injuries or loss of life were reported.
- Rampur police station SHO Dinesh Bahadur Singh and fire brigade personnel reached the spot promptly.
District assistant fire officer Naveen Kumar said the flames were extinguished in time. Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, who was staying at the circuit house, visited the scene and asked for an inquiry into safety arrangements at the facility.
"Preliminary inquiry indicates a possible electrical fault. The AC's remote had been used to switch it off, but its MCB appears to have tripped or failed to disconnect the power supply, which may have led to the blast and subsequent fire," said Additional District Magistrate (law and order) Md Shafique.
Md Shafique said the agency responsible for maintaining the circuit house has been asked to provide an explanation. He also directed the building construction department’s electrical wing to conduct a comprehensive inspection of wiring and electrical appliances in all rooms of the circuit house.
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Gaya circuit house, room No. 3 (fire), room No. 2 (evacuation) |
| Occupants affected | Manoj Kumar (MEA director) and his wife; others staying in circuit house including Assembly Speaker |
| Response | Rampur police, three fire tenders; fire brought under control in around an hour |
| Preliminary cause | Possible electrical fault involving AC MCB failure |
Officials said the AC unit’s remote had been used to switch the appliance off, but the miniature circuit breaker (MCB) associated with that circuit did not disconnect as expected. The failure of the protective device is being examined as a potential trigger for the compressor blast that sparked the fire.
The administration has asked the executive engineer of the electrical wing to inspect the electrical fittings and wiring throughout the circuit house to prevent recurrence. This instruction follows standard precautionary practice after incidents that expose possible lapses in maintenance or safety oversight at government guesthouses.
Local residents and frequent users of the circuit house said such facilities accommodate visiting officials and guests and therefore require rigorous upkeep. The circuit house incident will likely renew calls for periodic safety audits, proper maintenance contracts and clearer accountability for upkeep of electrical installations in government accommodation.
Authorities have not yet completed a formal technical report; the preliminary findings shared by the administration describe a likely electrical malfunction. A detailed investigation by the maintenance agency and the building department is under way to establish the exact sequence of events and to recommend remedial measures.
Meanwhile, normal functioning of the circuit house has been temporarily affected as safety checks proceed. Officials did not report any displacement of other guests beyond the immediate evacuation, and no official confirmation is yet available about repair works or timelines for reoccupation of the affected room.
Further updates are expected after the electrical wing submits its inspection findings and the agency responsible for maintenance responds to the district administration’s inquiry.
