Kolkata, 18 December (H.S.): A fire broke out late Wednesday night in the slum area adjacent to Eco Park in Kolkata. No casualties have been reported so far, but firefighting efforts continued into Thursday morning. Fourteen fire engines are currently at the scene. The densely populated area with narrow lanes is making it difficult for firefighters to control the blaze.

The cause of the fire in the slum is still unclear, but continuous cylinder explosions are contributing to its rapid spread. Local residents believe that the exploding cylinders intensified the fire.

West Bengal Fire Minister Sujit Bose arrived at the scene after being informed of the incident. He said that the presence of large quantities of plastic materials in many of the shacks caused the fire to spread rapidly. However, firefighters have taken appropriate measures to prevent further spread. He has arranged for 20 fire engines, all of which will be deployed if needed.

Regarding the difficulties faced in reaching the area, the Fire Minister said, Initially, there were difficulties due to the lack of cooperation from the public, but later it became possible to get fire engines into the slum. However, almost three hours have passed, and firefighters are still struggling to extinguish the fire. Residents of the slum said that the intensity of the fire increased continuously due to successive cylinder explosions. The fire department was informed. Initially, four fire engines arrived, followed by six more. By the time of filing this report, 14 engines had reached the spot. However, due to the narrow lanes and dense population, firefighters faced considerable difficulty in starting the firefighting operation. The fire has not yet been brought under control. Efforts are continuing on a war footing. The cause of the fire is still unclear, and an investigation is underway. As per information, the families living in these slums include those with young children and others with elderly members. The fire, which broke out on a cold winter night, left everyone homeless. The local residents are inconsolable, watching their homes reduced to ashes before their very eyes.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey