Kolkata, 15 November (H.S.): A massive fire broke out early Saturday morning at the historic Burrabazar market in central Kolkata, reducing several shops to ashes. The blaze originated at an electrical goods shop on Ezra Street and quickly spread to adjoining buildings, nearby electronic stores, and warehouses packed with inflammable materials, triggering chaos across the congested trading hub.

According to the Fire Department, the first alert was received around 5 a.m. Initially, six fire tenders were rushed to the spot, but as the flames intensified, the deployment was increased to 21 engines. Firefighters battled the blaze continuously, facing significant difficulty due to the area’s narrow lanes and the presence of highly combustible stock.

Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the entire locality, forcing authorities to cut power supply in the surrounding zone as a precaution. Local traders fear substantial financial losses, reporting that multiple shops have been completely destroyed.

Kolkata Police’s Deputy Commissioner (Central) reached the site and reviewed the situation alongside senior fire officials.

State Fire Minister Sujit Bose said preliminary investigation suggests the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. A joint team of police and fire department officials will probe the exact cause.

Officials confirmed that although the fire was severe, it was successfully brought under control within two hours of the initial outbreak. No casualties have been reported so far, and cooling operations are underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh