KOLKATA: At least 35 shanties were gutted at Gulmath Colony in the EM Bypass-Bengal Chemical area during a massive fire reported on Tuesday evening. The blaze also slowed peak-hour traffic to a crawl. Police sources said that with over 200 shanties in the area — adjoining the Purbasha Complex — many more could be affected. Unofficial sources put the number of affected hutments at 50.
The blaze was huge and flames could be spotted from several kilometres away on the Bypass. However, no injury or death was reported. Till late evening, the cause of fire could not be ascertained. The most likely reason cited was a short-circuit or a gas leak.
According to fire department officials, the blaze spread fast owing to a number of factors — the most important being combustible materials stacked in the area. The locals, including those in the adjoining complex, claimed that they heard blasts before the fire spread. Police sources said the blasts could have been from cylinders and stoves stored in the shanties. Fifteen fire engines were rushed to the spot to douse the fire. “Till 8.45pm, the fire was still not under control. However, we managed to contain it to a smaller area and stop its spread. We hope to begin the cooling process before midnight,” explained an officer.
The fire also affected peak-hour traffic on EM Bypass — one of the busiest stretches of Kolkata — as the locals rushed out to the roads seeking safety. “There was a major snarl between Captain Bheri and Ultadanga. We tried controlling the situation by diverting north-bound vehicles from Chingrighata, Beliaghata Building More and Narkeldanga Main Road,” said an officer. Many remained stranded for hours as cops tried to untangle the traffic mess.
The fire was noticed by locals around 6.38pm. “I was out for some work and rushed back after receiving a call from home. My family tried to stop the spread of the fire by themselves, but it was too late. We could not save any of our belongings. All my certificates and personal belongings, my hopes of landing a decent job have burned down,” said Aurobindo Mondal, whose house got burnt.
“With the winters setting in, at least 150-200 people have lost everything they owned and will now be forced to spend the night out in the open. I have a one-year-old child. He has no clothes to wear in this biting cold,” said Parimal Das, one of the locals who tried to douse the fire locally.
Chairman of the KMC Board of Administrators Firhad Hakim and fire minister Sujit Bose rushed to the spot along with DG (fire) Jagmohan. Police pressed its Disaster Management Group to rescue the people. “We concentrated first in removing everyone to safety,” said Hakim. “The fire brigade is investigating the cause of fire. We are also ascertaining the loss. The government will do everything to stand by the victims,” Bose said.