One dead, 40 shops gutted in New Town marketplace fire

Kolkata: A shop owner was killed and a firefighter was injured after a devastating fire broke out at a temporary marketplace near the Shapoorji Housing Complex on Thursday morning. The impact of the fire was massive as multiple LPG cylinders blasted. According to local residents, around 3:30 am on Thursday, people heard sound of blasts from outside of Shapoorji Housing Complex. They found that the market was on fire. Within minutes the fire started spreading as multiple LPG cylinders started blasting one by one.

The New Town police station and Bidhannagar fire station were immediately informed. Two fire tenders were pressed into action. While dousing the fire, one firefighter hurt his leg and was admitted to the Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital.

Despite repeated order by the police and firefighters to stay out of the danger area, some shopkeepers went near their shops to save their belongings. Md. Insaan was trying to save his shop when all of a sudden a LPG cylinder blasted leaving him injured. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in New Town and later shifted to another private hospital near Vivekannada Yuva Bharti Kriranggan where he succumbed to his injuries.

As the impact of the fire intensified three more fire tenders were sent to the spot. Approximately after one hour the fire was controlled. Till then around 40 temporary shops had turned into ashes. It is alleged to obtain electricity the shop owners hooked wires to electric lines. It is suspected a short circuit in the electrical wire due to hooking might have triggered the fire. As there were several LPG cylinders and inflammable items at the site, the fire spread fast.

In another fire incident, fire broke out at a spa on the 10th floor of the Park Hotel behind the Convention Centre in New Town today. The floor was immediately evacuated and the fire was doused using the firefighting system of the hotel. No causality was reported.