Kolkata, June 17:

Amid rising criticism over the massive fire that engulfed parts of Khidirpur’s Orphanganj market late Sunday night, West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose has come forward to defend the department’s response, firmly denying allegations of delay and operational shortcomings.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Bose said the fire services acted swiftly upon receiving the alert. “We received the call at 2:05 a.m., and three fire tenders were dispatched immediately. Subsequently, 20 more vehicles were sent to the site,” the minister stated, rejecting claims made by local traders that fire units arrived two to three hours late.

On allegations that there was a shortage of water or fuel for the pumps, Bose clarified, “There was no scarcity of water or fuel. Initially, there were some blockages in the suction pipes due to plastic waste, but that was resolved quickly, and water supply resumed normally.”

Drawing a parallel with the armed forces, Bose said, “Just like soldiers risk their lives for the country, our firefighters put their lives on the line to control fires. Undermining their commitment is unjustified.”

He further informed that both he and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim reached the site before 6 a.m., accompanied by senior state officials. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also visited the area later in the day to assess the damage and meet with affected traders.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari visited the site and termed the incident a “man-made conspiracy,” holding the state government responsible for the fire and its aftermath.

During her visit, Chief Minister Banerjee announced compensation for the victims. Traders whose shops were completely gutted will receive ₹1 lakh, while those with partially damaged shops will be given ₹50,000. The state government has also committed to rebuilding the market infrastructure.

The fire broke out in several shops late Sunday night and quickly spread due to the presence of highly flammable materials stored in large quantities. Local residents were the first to respond in an attempt to control the blaze, but many expressed anger at what they perceived as a delayed response from fire services. Protests erupted at the site when Minister Sujit Bose arrived, with residents voicing their frustration over the handling of the incident.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh