Major Fire Engulfs Gorakhpur Sales Tax Office; Critical Documents Reduced to Ashes

In a sudden and alarming incident late Friday night, a massive fire broke out at the Gorakhpur Sales Tax Office, causing extensive damage to crucial files and documents. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Authorities suspect a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.

The fire erupted around 1:30 AM on the upper floor of the office located near Taramandal, Ramgarh Tal area. Local residents, noticing thick smoke, alerted the police and fire brigade immediately. A team of firefighters battled the flames for over an hour before bringing the situation under control. By then, the fire had destroyed important records, computers, office furniture, and filing cabinets.

Sales Tax Department officials rushed to the scene to assess the damage. “The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but preliminary indications suggest a short circuit,” said a department spokesperson.

Gorakhpur Fire Department officials confirmed that the upper floor was completely engulfed in flames. “It was fortunate that the fire was contained in time; otherwise, it could have spread to the lower floors,” said the Deputy Fire Officer.

This marks the second fire incident in the Ramgarh area within just 12 hours. Earlier on Friday afternoon, a fire broke out at a floating restaurant on Ramgarh Tal Lake. Firefighters managed to control that blaze as well. Notably, a month ago, another three-storey restaurant in the same police jurisdiction caught fire, resulting in significant damage and claiming one life.

Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the office fire and to assess the full extent of the losses.