A fire at an office of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission at the Pioneer Base of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project in Ishwardi, Pabna, damaged equipment and documents in a server room, disrupting internal internet services in parts of the project area.
The fire broke out around 3am on Sunday, but the incident became known on Tuesday night.
Md Abul Hashem, an official at the Rooppur nuclear power plant project’s fire service station, said the fire is initially believed to have started from an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit.
“An internal investigation committee has already been formed to determine the actual cause. The committee is examining CCTV footage and other information and evidence,” he said.
Md Sadekul Bari, deputy assistant director of Pabna Fire Service, said four units of Ishwardi Fire Service reached the site after receiving the report and brought the fire under control after a prolonged effort.
Md Shahidul Islam, station master of Rooppur Green City Modern Fire Service, said technical equipment and documents in the server room were damaged.
“The technical equipment and documents in the server room were burnt, causing significant damage. However, the exact extent of the damage has not yet been assessed,” he said.
The fire also disrupted electricity supply to the Pioneer Base and two nearby buildings. Internet services were cut off at several offices of Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Ltd (NPCBL) and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
A site in-charge, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the internet disruption had caused serious communication problems for project workers.
“Electricity and water supplies to the Customs Building and the canteen are also completely shut,” he said.
However, Md Ruhul Quddus, site in-charge of the Rooppur nuclear power plant project, said the fire had not caused any major loss.
He said some documents had been damaged but backups of all the documents were preserved.
He confirmed that internal internet services had remained disrupted for two days due to damage to the server station and said work was under way to restore them.
