Cops retrieve CCTV footage
Crime branch officials on Tuesday said the footage from all 102 CCTV cameras at Mantralaya has been retrieved and is clear. Senior officers said that they are now studying the footage of the fourth floor cameras, and Forensic Laboratory (FSL) officials have also engaged their personnel from Nashik and Pune to work on their findings on priority basis.
“The footage has been retrieved by experts after much hard work, and all of them are clear and not distorted. We are now going through the relevant footage mostly from the fourth floor, which is suspected to be the origin of the fire,” said Niket Kaushik, additional commissioner of police, crime.
Mr Kaushik said that till Monday, the crime branch had recorded statements of 82 witnesses in the case. “We will be recording more statements and as soon as possible will come out with a conclusion on the cause of fire. However, at this moment it is too early to comment on what caused the fire,” he said.
The FSL, which is examining the switchboard rack that was near room number 411 of Mantralaya, has roped in additional personnel to help in the findings. “Officials from Pune and Nashik units of the FSL are also working on the case to submit their report at the earliest,” Mr Kaushik said.
A 35-member special team has been formed for the investigations. “Of the 35 experts, 10 are electrical engineers, 10 are forensics experts and 15 are from fire brigade,” said an officer.
The departments including urban development, revenue, relief and rehabilitation, forest, home, tourism, transport, ports and FDA have been affected in the fire, which engulfed the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of Mantralaya on June 21.
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