1 critical after pre-dawn fire in Kolkata; 30 shops gutted

Locals stand near the debris of a shop and house, in Kolkata, on Sunday. Pic/PTI

One person suffered serious burn injuries and around 30 shops were reduced to ashes in a major fire at Kestopur in the northern part of Kolkata early on Sunday, fire brigade sources said.

Fifteen fire tenders fought the flames for three hours to put off the blaze that broke out at around 2 am.

The local resident, who suffered burn injuries while trying to evacuate and fight the flames, was in serious condition, the sources said.

The fire first started at a roadside furniture shop at Satarupa Pally in Kestopur and took no time in spreading to nearby shops all housed in shanties, they added.

Fire Services minister Sujit Bose, rushed to the spot on hearing about the incident, denied allegations by a section of locals that the fire brigade was late in arriving and said the prompt action by fire fighters prevented a bigger tragedy.

Fire brigade sources said the flames were believed to have been ignited by an LPG cylinder blast in the shop and due to presence of inflammable materials spread to other shops.

Also read: Gujarat: Seven dead in fire, explosion caused by LPG cylinder leakage

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