Fire breaks out at Sarkarwada, no major damage
Nashik: A fire broke out at Sarkarwada, near the Raviwar Karanja area of Nashik, around 1am on Friday. Fire brigade teams from the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) rushed to the scene and quickly brought the blaze under control.
"We received a call at around 1am on Friday. We immediately sent our team of firemen along with the fire engine, which immediately brought the fire under control," said a fire brigade official. Preliminary investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire.
Sarkarwada, a state govt-protected monument, houses the office and museum of the state's archaeology department. The building dates back to the 18th century and served as the administrative center during the Peshwa era, making it a site of immense historical and architectural value.
Amol Gote, assistant director of Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (Nanded division), confirmed the incident and praised the prompt response. "Our staff that was also at the office building also made their efforts to bring the fire under control," he said. He added that both the fire brigade and police acted swiftly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
"There was no major damage, but some office furniture and table fans were damaged in the fire.
But all the documents are safe. There was no damage to the museum of the archaeology department as the fire was in the inner premises of the building," Gote said.
Sarkarwada is a two-storied structure spanning 1,304 sq m. It previously served as a police station and now functions as the office of the state archaeological department and a museum. The building has withstood various historical events, including the 1939 floods, when the Godavari River rose high enough to submerge 11 of its steps, prompting the administration to mark a flood line on the wall. Local officials have stated that additional safety measures will now be reviewed to protect the structure from future incidents.
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