A massive fire gutted around 300 shops in Kolkata's Ezra Street early on Saturday. The fire officials suspect that it began with a short circuit, and raged through electrical goods, plywood and other combustible material stored inside the units.
As per a report by the Indian Express, twenty fire engines were deployed to bring the situation under control. When firefighters first reached the spot, only six engines were sent in, but more were added as the flames intensified and visibility dropped due to thick black smoke.
Also Read | Fire breaks out at a foam factory in West Bengal, 10 fire engines rushed to spot
A senior Fire and Emergency Services officer said, Initially, six fire engines were pressed into action. But as the fire began to spread, more engines were deployed. As the entire area was covered in black smoke, the fire department brought in a smoke sucker to help firefighters enter the buildings. There were a lot of combustible materials inside the shops. We believe the fire spread from a short circuit, but right now the main focus is to bring it under control. Later investigation will be carried out," the Indian Express reported.
The 300 shops sell everything from electrical goods to perfumes, and several small godowns crowd the narrow bylanes of the area, making the blaze spread fast.
No casualties after timely evacuation
"We had evacuated all the buildings. So, no casualties," Indira Mukherjee, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said to the reporters. According to officials, all residents of neighbouring buildings were moved out before the fire could spread further. Firefighters also used a smoke-sucking machine to clear pathways and enter the structures safely.
The police had sealed all the adjoining roads to facilitate the free movement of emergency vehicles and fire crews in the congested commercial hub.
Safety concerns raised
Local councillor Santosh Pathak blamed civic bodies for turning a blind eye to repeated complaints about the area's poor fire preparedness. He said to the reporters, "I have written so many times to the local authorities and the police in the past 22 years regarding poor safety standards of the building. But no steps were taken."
Also Read | Massive fire erupts near Lalbazar, multiple fire tenders rushed to the spot
Another blaze reported last week
The incident comes just days after a fire broke out at a godown on R N Mukherjee Road in central Kolkata. That building, which stored computers, motors and car parts, was also located along a narrow lane and was part of an old multi-storey structure barely 200 metres from Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police Headquarters.
