Fire breaks out at Presidency University canteen, no casualties

Fire broke out at a canteen of Presidency University early on Monday, with no casualties being reported. Firefighters tried hard to save the structure from getting gutted, but the false ceiling and interior decoration was destroyed after the incident.

Six fire tenders reached the spot and managed to douse the fire after around 45 minutes, but flames were again seen in the canteen. Fire brigade personnel did not take any chance and started their work again. Black smoke was seen coming out from the roof of the canteen even after the flame was completely extinguished.

“This is a new canteen. Some students, staff and researchers informed us about the incident early in the morning. We called up the fire brigade and they reached the university in a few minutes and started their work,” said Debajyoti Konar, Registrar, Presidency University.

Eyewitnesses said that the fire broke out at 6.10 am and luckily did not spread to other buildings. The canteen is located in a separate building and is not connected with the main administrative building and Derozio Hall.

The Registrar assured mediapersons that fire was doused completely. Fire brigade personnel are yet to determine the source of the fire.

The university is equipped with necessary infrastructure to combat with fires and other emergencies. The canteen staff tried for a while to douse the flames themselves, before the fire brigade reached the spot.

Presidency University, earlier Presidency College, is currently observing its bicentenary. Many acclaimed persons and dignitaries in their respective fields have been given speeches to mark the occasion.

It may be recalled that a fire had broken out at the University on September 9 last year, in the University’s central library. The library houses more than 3.73 lakh books and 1.5 lakh periodicals.