Rescue workers recovered two bodies from the Mantralaya yesterday, even as the fire raged on late into the night. The charred bodies found at around 10.15 pm were later identified as Mahesh Gugade and Umesh Kotekar.
The two deceased were natives of Baramati in Pune district. According to sources, they were NCP workers and were visiting Dy CM Ajit Pawar when they got trapped in the blaze.
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According to sources, three people are missing including Tukaram More, an employee at Mantralaya, and the other two were acknowledged as visitors. Virar resident More’s daughter Deepali said, “My father is retired, but was on a six month extension and would regularly go to Mantralaya. Since the incident we have been trying to know his whereabouts, however, all our efforts to trace him have proved futile.”
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Eknath Khadse said, “This is the utter disgrace to our state, where the CM can’t save his own office. What fire drill or security measures is the CM and the government talking about. I have never heard any siren or signal of fire drill ever at the Mantralaya."
He further added, “The deaths are a disgrace. We are supposed to have well maintained and well equipped offices. What else can we say? There’s nothing that can be said now. A proper investigation is needed, but then we need experts to solve the problem.”u00a0
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