Fire breaks out in Barrackpore, Malda; four hurt

Four people suffered burn injuries when a fire broke out inside a saw mill at Chak Kathalia area in Barrackpore on Saturday night. According to information, the victims were sleeping inside the mill when the incident took place. They were undergoing treatment at hospital. 

The police have interrogated the victims and other staff members of the mill to ascertain whether it was an accident or there was any foul play behind the incident. 

Police said the fire broke out at around 1 am. The victims woke up to find themselves surrounded by fire. The victims suffered burn injuries while they were trying to escape. Local people spotted the smoke billowing out of the mill. They rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fire. After getting information, four fire brigade engines were pressed into action to douse the flame. The situation was brought under control at 2.30 am. The mill was however completely gutted in the fire. 

In another incident, a fire broke out at a garment shop in Chandni market, Kaliachak in Malda. The fire then spread to other adjacent shops. Around 15 shops were affected in the incident. According to the preliminary investigation, electrical short circuit might have caused the fire. The shop owners claimed that garments worth nearly Rs 50 lakh were damaged in the fire.