The fire that erupted around 2.45 pm, continued to rage more than four hours after it was first noticed on the fourth floor near the office of Tribal Welfare Minister Babanrao Pachpute, soon spreading over to the upper floors, aided by the sea breeze.
The fourth floor houses the urban development department, in the eye of the Adarsh scam, and there were apprehensions that vital documents relating to the scandal might have been lost. Extensive damage was also caused to the offices of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar on the sixth floor.
According to Relief and Rehabilitation Secretary Pravin pardeshi, 65 people trapped on the fifth and sixth floor have been evacuated by the fire-fighters.
Pardeshi said five persons were injured in the blaze of whom two were admitted to the intensive care unit in serious condition.
However, dean of state-run JJ Hospital T P Lahane told PTI that 11 injured were admitted there of whom one was serious and others were out of danger.
Two helicopters of the Indian Navy were pressed into service to evacuate those trapped inside the building but returned without any success as nobody could be found on the terrace of the building in south Mumbai.
Contingents of the anti-terror force--Force One and Quick Response Teams of Mumbai police assisted the fire brigade in trying to bring the blaze under control.
According to fire brigade sources, while the flames in the front part of the Secretariat have been weakened, fire was still raging on the rear side of the building.
Pardeshi said nearly 3000 government employees and as many visitors were removed safely after the blaze started.
Relief and rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam admitted that the government had never anticipated such a major fire at the seat of Maharashtra administration and added that the damage caused to the building would be assessed soon.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Home Minister R R Patil supervised the rescue efforts.
