Third biggest fire in two years in Kolkata

KOLKATA - The Park Street blaze Tuesday is the third big fire in Kolkata in the last two years that has resulted in huge loss of property and many injuries.

The fire that broke out in a landmark multi-storied building in the heart of Kolkata’s downtown Park Street follows two major fires, one of them in Burra Bazar in 2008. The city’s biggest wholesale market was destroyed in that fire that resulted in losses worth crores of rupees affecting almost 2,500 shops.

There was also a huge fire in a slum near the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass on March 5 this year when over 100 shanties were gutted. At least 20 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the flames.