Mumbai: A sudden fire broke out at the main entrance of Vidhan Bhavan, Maharashtra’s state legislature complex, around midday today. The blaze, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit in a baggage scanning machine at the reception area, led to thick smoke filling the premises and temporarily halting routine proceedings.
According to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, the fire began when the scanner malfunctioned due to an electrical fault. Fortunately, thanks to a swift response and evacuation protocol, no injuries were reported. Staff, lawmakers, and visitors exited the area quickly and safely.
The incident occurred shortly after a legislative event concluded, as several MLAs and MPs were leaving for lunch. On-duty fire brigade teams acted quickly, using extinguishers to bring the fire under control before it could spread further.
The occurrence has sparked serious concerns about the safety infrastructure and maintenance standards at one of the state’s most secure government buildings. Despite the significant budget allocated for Vidhan Bhavan’s security, the fire exposed vulnerabilities that are now under scrutiny.
Following the event, authorities cleared the affected area and initiated a thorough investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire and assess any lapses.
Speaker Narvekar visited the site personally to review the situation and assured the public that preventive measures would be strengthened to avoid such incidents in the future.
