- Forensic lab fire at Nampally triggers probe and damage review
- Forensic lab fire rumors on evidence dismissed by Shikha Goyal
A fire broke out at the Forensic Science Lab in Nampally, Hyderabad, on Saturday morning, prompting an official response and a police probe. Shikha Goyal, Director of the Forensic Science Lab, said some people were spreading false information after the incident. She addressed the media in Hyderabad and clarified the sequence of events and the status of evidence linked to ongoing cases.
According to Shikha Goyal, the fire incident took place at 10.08 am on Saturday. She said fire brigade personnel brought the blaze under control by 1.30 pm. Meanwhile, authorities began assessing the extent of the damage. She added that the fire spread to multiple sections of the facility, including the FSL lab, the training hall, the library, and the HRD room. Therefore, officials treated the incident as serious and moved quickly to secure the premises.
Shikha Goyal said the department filed a complaint with the police regarding the fire. She said investigators launched an inquiry into the causes of the accident. She added that officials were still assessing the damage caused by the fire. “We will reveal the details once we get clarity on this,” she said. Meanwhile, she cautioned against unverified claims circulating in the public domain.
Addressing rumors directly, Shikha Goyal said, “Some people are spreading lies about this accident.” She said there was a false rumor that evidence in two key cases had been burnt in the forensic lab fire. However, she clarified that the lab had already handed over the equipment related to those cases to the court. She also said false propaganda was being spread regarding the 2015 ACB case.
She further explained that the FSL had submitted evidence to the court in the case registered at Panjagutta PS. She said that out of the 136 pieces of evidence collected till 2024, the lab had given all but seven to the court. Therefore, she rejected claims that the fire had destroyed crucial case material.
Reassuring the public, Shikha Goyal said, “FSL will keep all the evidence and equipment safe. If anything happens, our team will restore the information.” Officials said further details would be shared after the investigation and assessment were complete.
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