Kolkata, 16 January (H.S.):

A major fire broke out once again in Kolkata on Friday afternoon, this time at a sofa manufacturing factory in the Topsia area. The blaze rapidly escalated into a massive inferno, with towering flames and thick black smoke engulfing the sky, triggering panic and fear among residents of the densely populated locality.

On receiving information, nine fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and firefighting operations were launched on a war footing. Fire department officials said the presence of large quantities of highly inflammable materials inside the factory caused the fire to spread rapidly.

According to local sources, the unit was engaged in sofa manufacturing and stored materials such as wood, foam, rexine and adhesive, all of which are highly combustible. As a result, the fire intensified within a short span of time, with heavy black smoke billowing continuously from inside the factory.

Fire officials stated that reaching the exact source of the blaze has been challenging due to the intensity of the fire and the structure of the building. However, special efforts are being made to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby residential houses.

No casualties have been reported so far, but heavy property damage is feared. Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit, though officials emphasized that bringing the blaze fully under control remains their top priority at present.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh