A significant fire broke out on Monday morning at the office of the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI) on VIP Road in the Vesu area of Surat, causing extensive damage to a record room that housed a large number of official files and documents.
Fire Incident Details
According to officials, the blaze erupted in the record room located on the fourth floor of the White House complex. The Surat Fire and Emergency Services received an emergency call at around 9:20 am and promptly dispatched multiple teams to the location. Firefighters reported that the flames were largely contained within the record room, which prevented the fire from spreading to other sections of the office premises.
A significant number of files and documents stored in the room were damaged by the fire. Additionally, several records suffered water damage during the firefighting operation. Officials stated that the full extent of the loss and the possibility of recovering any materials would be assessed after the site is secured and declared safe for inspection.
No casualties were reported. Officials noted that only a few staff members were present at the office early in the morning, and the fire remained confined to the record room area. Teams from the Vesu, Bhimrad, Rundh, and Majura Gate fire stations participated in the operation. Six firefighting vehicles, including a turntable ladder, were deployed to control the blaze on the upper floor and prevent further spread.
Potential Impact on Investigations
The DGGI handles investigations into major GST evasion cases, raising concerns that records linked to ongoing probes may have been affected. Officials have yet to ascertain whether any key evidence or investigation-related documents were destroyed and whether the damage could impact future investigations or prosecutions.
Cause of the Fire
The exact cause of the fire has not been confirmed. However, individuals present at the office told fire officials that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.
