Over 100 shanties gutted in Kolkata fire

KOLKATA - More than 100 shanties were gutted when a huge fire broke out on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata Friday, a senior fire department official said. No casualty was reported in the incident.

At least 20 fire engines were pressed into service for two hours to douse the flames in the slum on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass near Science City auditorium.

“The slum was full of combustible items, plastics and leather products, which aggravated the fire at a massive pace. The fire broke out at around 11.30 a.m.,” state Fire Services Director Gopal Bhattacharya said.

“I was coming from a nearby fire station when I saw spiralling smoke bellowing out of this Tiljala area. I immediately called the fire department,” the official said.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya along with other senior civic officials visited the area.

“Primarily we are setting up temporary camps to provide shelters to hundreds of people who lost everything in the fire. We will also give them food and other necessary articles,” Bhattacharyya said.