Lightning strikes Fire and Emergency Services' control room

A lightning struck the control room of the Fire and Emergency Services Department disrupting the normal functioning of the office. No one was reportedly injured.

The lightning struck the control room situated on Mirza Galib Street at little before 3 pm on Thursday when a heavy shower lashed the city. State Fire and Emergency department minister Sovan Chatterjee acted promptly to bring the situation under control.

Chatterjee, who is also the Mayor, was holding a meeting with the members and Mayor-in-Council at the KMC when he received a call from DG fire about the incident. After getting the information, Chatterjee rushed to the spot and found that the computer systems and networks and devices responsible for the communication system had completely collapsed. After taking stock of the situation, the minister instructed the concerned officials to do the needful so that emergency services are restored. The minister also instructed the officials to put in place an alternative service to handle the situation as it is one of the most important department. Despite problems with the computer system and other networks, the emergency number of the fire department 101 was found to be working. The senior officials, meanwhile, managed to bring the situation under control within a few hours. Everything was restored within a short period of time, Chatterjee said.

The minister also said that the state PWD department will take up renovation work of the building which is nearly 75 years old.