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ISRO Ahmedabad Fire: Critical Server Blaze Sparks Data Security Concerns

A fire broke out at ISRO's IT server building in Ahmedabad, triggering an emergency response from the city fire department. Four fire tenders quickly contained the blaze that started on the upper floor near the campus outer gate. While all employees were safely evacuated with no casualties, the fire caused significant damage to computers and critical IT infrastructure. This incident marks the second major fire at ISRO's Ahmedabad facility, following a similar 2018 blaze at the Space Applications Centre.

Key Points: Fire at ISRO Ahmedabad IT Server Building, No Casualties

  • Four fire tenders rushed to control blaze on building's upper floor
  • Employees safely evacuated with no casualties reported
  • Electrical short circuit suspected as preliminary cause of fire
  • Critical data servers damaged, internal inquiry initiated
3 min read

Fire breaks out at ISRO's IT server building in Ahmedabad, no casualties reported

Major fire breaks out at ISRO's IT server building in Ahmedabad, damaging critical infrastructure. No casualties reported as investigation begins into electrical short circuit cause.

"The flames caused significant damage to the IT infrastructure, with several computers and equipment destroyed - Officials"

Ahmedabad, Oct 23

A fire broke out at the IT server building inside the Indian Space Research Organisation campus in Ahmedabad, triggering a swift response from the city fire department. The blaze reportedly started on the upper floor of the building located near the outer gate of the ISRO premises.

Four fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and firefighters managed to bring the situation under control within a short time. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Employees working in the building were safely evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Preliminary reports suggest that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire, though the exact reason is yet to be confirmed. Officials said the flames caused significant damage to the IT infrastructure, with several computers and equipment destroyed in the incident. The extent of the damage is currently being assessed.

The affected servers reportedly contained critical data, and an internal inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire and the scale of the loss.

A similar incident was reported in 2018 at ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad, when thick smoke was seen billowing from one of the country’s most important space laboratories.

The fire, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, broke out in a major facility of the centre, the city’s fire department had said at the time. A CISF guard was injured after inhaling smoke, while firefighters managed to control the blaze.

During that incident, then SAC Director Dr Tapan Misra confirmed that the antenna test facility had caught fire, resulting in damage to some specialised equipment.

The ISRO has a long-standing presence in Ahmedabad through its Space Applications Centre (SAC), one of the premier facilities of the organisation.

Established in 1972, SAC plays a vital role in developing payloads for communication, meteorology, remote sensing, and space science. Located in the Satellite area of Ahmedabad, SAC was founded under the leadership of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme, who envisioned the city as a hub for scientific and technological advancement.

The centre is instrumental in designing satellite-based systems that support national missions in communication, disaster management, weather forecasting, and resource mapping. Over the years, the Ahmedabad unit has become a crucial link between space technology and societal applications, contributing significantly to India’s space successes -- from INSAT and IRS satellites to recent advancements in navigation and planetary exploration.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Electrical short circuits in such critical facilities? Seriously? After the 2018 incident, you'd think they would have upgraded all wiring and installed better fire suppression systems. This is negligence that could cost us valuable research data. 😠
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Arjun K
Great job by Ahmedabad fire department for quick response! 🚒 ISRO has given us so many achievements - Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan. Hope the damage isn't too severe and they recover quickly. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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Sarah B
As someone working in IT infrastructure, I'm concerned about the data loss. Critical servers should have off-site backups and proper disaster recovery plans. Hope ISRO had these protocols in place. Data is as valuable as the hardware.
V
Vikram M
Ahmedabad's SAC has been the backbone of India's space program since Dr. Sarabhai's time. These repeated fire incidents are alarming. Government should conduct safety audits across all ISRO facilities. Our scientists work too hard for such setbacks.
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Kavya N
Relief that all employees are safe! Human life is most important. Equipment can be replaced but people cannot. Hope ISRO learns from this and improves safety measures across all centers. 🙌

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