SHILLONG: A fire broke out at the newly constructed Shillong Government College of Engineering (SGCE) early Thursday morning, causing extensive damage to the top floor of the campus and triggering panic in the Mawlai area. The blaze is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, officials said.
The fire reportedly erupted around 7:30 am, with thick plumes of smoke visible from several parts of the city. Firefighters battled the inferno for nearly 90 minutes before bringing it under control. No casualties or injuries have been reported.
Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma expressed relief that all staff and students escaped unharmed.
“While the damage to infrastructure and equipment is extensive, we are thankful that no lives were lost in this unfortunate incident,” the Chief Minister said.
According to SGCE Principal Prof. C. Myrthong, the fire originated in the Sports Department’s storage room located on the top floor of the building. Preliminary findings indicate that a major electrical short circuit may have triggered the blaze, although a detailed investigation is still underway.
Immediate alert was issued after smoke was detected.
Fire and Emergency Services reached the site within minutes.
Firefighters worked for nearly one and a half hours to douse the flames.
Prompt action helped prevent the fire from spreading to classrooms and laboratories, averting a larger disaster.
The Principal said the college currently accommodates only its first batch of students, and academic activities have not been immediately disrupted. However, the fire caused severe damage to the top floor walls and destroyed valuable sports equipment.
Prof. Myrthong has appealed to the State Government for urgent repairs, cautioning that the damaged infrastructure could pose challenges as the institution prepares to expand in the coming months.
Personnel from Mawlai Police Station have conducted a forensic examination to rule out other possible causes and assess the total financial loss incurred by the state.
