Patna: Several important case files and legal records were destroyed in a major fire that broke out at the office of a Judicial Magistrate First Class inside the Patna civil court complex on Saturday morning, shortly before court proceedings were due to begin. Following the incident, all hearings scheduled for the day were postponed.The blaze erupted on the first floor of the new court building around 9.30am. As no judicial officers or court employees were present in the office at the time, no injuries were reported.Two fire tenders rushed to the spot after receiving information about the fire and brought the situation under control after hours of effort. Thick smoke and flames engulfed the office, reducing numerous case files, legal documents and old records to ashes.The fire triggered panic on the court premises as lawyers, court staff and police personnel gathered outside while firefighting operations were underway. Preliminary investigations point to a possible short circuit, though officials said all angles are being examined.District fire officer Sanjay Kumar said a team was dispatched immediately after the incident was reported. “Prima facie, it appears the fire was caused by a short circuit. Our team is investigating the exact source,” he said.The court administration has started assessing the extent of the loss and is preparing an inventory of the records destroyed in the blaze. Officials are also carrying out a technical inspection of the building’s electrical system, including old wiring, to determine the exact cause.Investigators are questioning people who were near the office when the fire broke out and examining available evidence as part of the inquiry. The findings of the probe will determine whether the incident was solely the result of an electrical fault or if other factors were involved.The incident has raised concerns about the safety of records and the condition of electrical infrastructure in government buildings, prompting authorities to review preventive measures at the court complex.
