Inferno wrecks 7 shops, 1 house in Murshidabad

Kolkata: Seven shops and a house were gutted in a fire that broke out at Samsergunge area in Murshidabad district late on Saturday night. No casualty or injury has been reported in the incident.

Local residents spotted smoke billowing from the market place where the shops were situated.

According to the police, a fire broke out at a local grocery shop which later spread across the market within 15 minutes.

Local residents tried to douse the flame, but failed to do so as the area was soon covered with thick black smoke, hindering their efforts. Three fire tenders were pressed into action to douse the flame.

Local people alleged that the fire engines reached the spot late as a result of which the fire had spread to other shops.

Police reached the spot immediately after the incident and evacuated the area to check any untoward incident.

The midnight blaze at the market has inflicted a substantial loss of materials.

According to the preliminary investigation, the police and fire officials suspect that the fire was caused due to an electric short- circuit in the grocery shop and later the blaze had engulfed other portions of the market.