The blaze destroyed the electric wiring, licence and other documents, furniture, computers, printers and other items in 15 to 20 cabins on the RTO's ground floor.
A major fire gutted Tardeo Regional Transport Office (RTO) early on Sunday morning. This will cause inconvenience to people who have applied for getting learner's driving license as the entire section got gutted. On Sunday evening, the RTO officials were scurrying to make alternate arrangements and shifting learner's license department.
Everyday around 450 people come to Tardeo RTO for giving tests and to apply for fresh learner's license. With an entire department gutted, this will pose serious trouble to people and authorities at least for the next few days. The learner's license section caught fire at 5.20 am and was doused by 7.35 am. However the cooling process was underway even at 4pm as charred barracks had crumbled on ground.
The blaze destroyed the electric wiring, licence and other documents, furniture, computers, printers and other items in 15 to 20 cabins on the RTO's ground floor. "We are in the midst of making alternate arrangement at one of our other offices within this premises. The data remains intact as it is completely online," said S Pedamkar, RTO, Tardeo.
The arrangement was being made in the H-block that is straight ahead as you enter from the main gate. Until now, before fire gutted down the office, it was on the left side of the entrance. The fire not only burned down the papers, documents of applicants but also the machines used for taking learner's license test. The authorities were also appointing people for removing the debris once the cooling process ends.
As per process, at least 30 people enter the room where the test was conducted. In this, each applicant need to answer 20 questions with each question having 3 options. The names of the pass-outs used to be entered into their system. The documents submitted for these tests are both online and with physical copies.
Eight fire-fighting engines and two water tankers were rushed to the spot. In the second half of the day another three water tankers and fire engines were sent. "The cause of fire cannot be ascertained unless properly investigated," said an official from Fire department present at the site.
Although detailed investigation behind the cause of the fire will be ascertained; sources said that they are not ruling out the drug addicts who sit in their premises especially during weekends after climbing down the walls from the rear end of the office.
This is a second such incident at Tardeo RTO as in 2015 a 1200 sq.feet godown that was used for storage of documents and furniture, was gutted in fire. Currently grass, weeds and plants in general have grown inside this godown and has been rendered useless.
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