Kolkata: Fire at Bagri Market rages on over 30 hours after breaking out
Over 400 shops have been completely destroyed in the fire, officials said.
A fire that broke out in Kolkata’s Bagri Market on Canning Street early on Sunday is still raging over 30 hours later, PTI reported on Monday. More than 400 shops have been completely destroyed in the blaze.
Thirty-five fire tenders and 250 fire and rescue services personnel are trying to put out the fire in the six-storey building, an official told ANI. “We have reached from ground to top floor, and have succeeded in containing fire but due to presence of chemical there, it’s difficult to contain pockets of fire inside,” the official added.
“Almost the entire building has been engulfed in the fire, because a huge amount of inflammable materials stored inside the shops helped spreading it,” PTI quoted an official as saying. “Most of the shops are closed with shutters locked due to which which we are facing a tough time to reach crucial points. Despite the problems, we are fighting to the best of our abilities to douse the fire.”
A fire department official said water scarcity was hampering rescue operations. “Water scarcity is a problem here. If there was a water supply from this area we could have fought the fire in a much better manner,” the official added. “Supplying water has been a problem as it is brought from nearby supplies.”
Flames and black smoke were seen billowing out from the building’s third floor on Monday morning, the Hindustan Times reported. Some cracks have reportedly begun to appear in the building.
There have been no casualties but six people, including two firemen, were admitted to a hospital after inhaling toxic smoke.
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, criticised the government for issuing conditional fire certificates to the market. “If there is any foul play, the persons concerned should be probed and punished,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sujan Chakraborty.
Trinamool Congress secretary general and West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee claimed the government had repeatedly urged market authorities to implement safety measures. “If they had heeded the administration, the disaster could have been avoided,” he said.