Fire rages in Park Street building, deaths feared (Second Lead)

KOLKATA - Scores of people were trapped and at least 12 injured when a raging fire broke out in a landmark multi-storied building in the heart of Kolkata’s buzzing Park Street Tuesday afternoon. Some people were feared killed.

Forty fire tenders were battling to contain the blaze, which started in an elevator shaft in 18/A Park Street, housing the popular Peter Cat restaurant and close to the iconic Flurys tea room, police said.

“At least 12 injured people have been removed from the building that has caught fire and one of them is in critical condition. They have been admitted to SSKM hospital,” Joint Commissioner of Police Jawed Shamin told IANS.

“Forty fire tenders have been mobilised till now. The quick response team is also working,” he added.

“There are many people still inside the building. We hope to remove all of them from the building,” he said.

There was a huge traffic snarl as crowds collected on the arterial road, making it difficult for the fire tenders to access the building

There were dramatic scenes as people tried desperately to clamber down the British era building on ropes. One person was seriously injured when he jumped from one of the higher floors.

People were seen calling for help with their mobile phones while perched precariously on the terrace or on ledges. Some were waving for help from grilled windows.

Firefighters could be seen using several ladders and breaking windows to enter the building from Flurys side and rescue the people, including some old women, trapped inside.

A common passage connects Peter Cat, Music World and Flurys.

“It is an old building. It will take some time to put it out,” said Pratim Chatterjee, fire services minister.

The cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained.