THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, January 6: Panic briefly gripped the civil court premises in Daltonganj on Tuesday after a fire broke out in an electricity panel on the ground floor, triggering commotion among advocates, litigants and court staff.
Officials said the fire was caused by a short circuit. No injuries or major damage were reported in the incident.
Computer Systems Remain Safe
Registrar of the civil court Kamal Prakash said that the court’s computer and information systems remained safe and intact, preventing disruption of digital records.
Faulty Wiring Blamed
Executive Engineer (Electricity) Santosh Kumar attributed the fire to faulty internal wiring and recommended the replacement of old wiring with high-quality cables. He also suggested relocating the electricity panel, noting that its current position is in a congested area with heavy footfall, increasing risk.
Courts Disrupted for Hours
The incident disrupted court proceedings for several hours, though officials said that four fast-track courts continued functioning normally.
Fire extinguishers installed in the building functioned effectively and helped contain the blaze. As it was an electrical fire, water was deliberately not used, preventing further damage.
Power supply to the civil court building was immediately cut and isolated from the surrounding area, the executive engineer added.
The prompt detection and swift action prevented major damage. However, court duty police personnel faced difficulties managing crowds near the single entry-exit gate, as anxious litigants, advocates and clerks gathered to understand the situation.
Normalcy was restored after the fire was fully brought under control.
