Burra Bazaar fire continues in Kolkata

he fire that broke out in Kolkata's Burrabazar, one of the biggest and busiest commercial hubs in eastern India, on Friday is till raging after more than 40 hours. Losses are estimated to run into Rs 200 crore and West Bengal Fire Services Minister has blamed the traders for illegally hoarding flammable material that led to the massive fire. There has been no loss of life with Border Security Force (BSF) jawans helping evacuate people. However, even after pressing 50 fire tenders in service including three from the defence services and one from the Airports Authority of India, the fire c0ontinues to spread. More than 2,500 shops and at least seven multi-storeyed buildings have been gutted so far, which housed mostly wholesale garment and tarpaulin shops. Thousands of shopkeepers, without basic insurance cover, are facing huge losses.

The blaze has spread to the Kashinath commercial complex and the Nandram building where the generator room exploded spreading blaze all over the 13-storey building. Shopkeepers alleged that the authorities were not doing enough to douse the blaze. "Firemen, military and police are doing nothing. They are just standing there. All systems have failed. There is no water and they have no ladder," a group of shopkeepers said. Meanwhile, West Bengal Fire Services Minister Pratim Chatterjee said the buildings were illegal. "The building did not have the permission. I have no idea who gave permission to the building. The situation is very bad and we have asked everyone to evacuate," Chatterjee said.