Major Fire Erupts at Telangana Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad
A substantial fire broke out on Saturday morning at the Telangana Forensic Science Laboratory (TGFSL) located in Nampally, Hyderabad, causing damage to computer systems and other facilities. The incident occurred around 10:20 am, with officials confirming that no casualties were reported, although an office staff member sustained minor injuries while attempting to extinguish the flames initially.
Damage Assessment and Suspected Cause
According to FSL director Shikha Goel, the fire resulted in damage to the computer forensic lab, a training hall, and certain other facilities on the first floor of the G+2 building. However, she noted that most of the case property and forensic material remained intact. The blaze is suspected to have originated from a short circuit in an MCB (miniature circuit breaker) switch box within a computer room on the first floor, as reported by Khairatabad zone police.
Khairatabad zone DCP K Shilpavalli stated that the affected area housed computers and equipment crucial for crime investigation and evidence management. It remains unclear whether any critical files or digital data were compromised. Police sources indicated that seized material stored on the first floor included evidence from pending cases awaiting forensic examination and material from cases where FSL reports were prepared but not yet collected by investigating officers.
Firefighting Efforts and Investigation
Approximately 40 fire personnel, five fire tenders, and a firefighting robot were deployed to combat the blaze, which was fully brought under control by 1:30 pm. Fire crews from multiple stations, including Abids, Assembly, Secretariat, Gandhi Outpost, Secunderabad, and Langar Houz, participated in the operation. Hyderabad district fire officer-2 Ajmeera Sreedas highlighted that the fire was prevented from spreading to the second floor, where chemicals are stored, averting a potential major accident.
Sreedas confirmed that a fire accident case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause and assess the extent of the damage. Forensic staff and police teams are expected to begin a detailed assessment to identify damaged and salvageable material, possibly starting late Saturday night or on Sunday morning.
Political Reactions and Dismissal of Claims
The incident sparked political reactions, with BRS working president KT Rama Rao raising suspicions on social media platform X about whether voice recordings linked to the 'vote-for-note' case might have been erased. In response to a post by BRS leader Krishank, KTR speculated about potential evidence tampering in political cases. However, police sources dismissed these claims, asserting that FSL reports related to the vote-for-note case had already been submitted to the concerned authorities well before the fire.
Officials noted that three to four staff members were present in the building at the time, as it was a working day, and they evacuated immediately upon hearing the fire alarm. The full impact on forensic operations and ongoing investigations is yet to be determined as assessments continue.
