OVER 50 HRS & 50 FIRE TENDERS, BUT KOLKATA BURRABAZAR FIRE RAGES

The devastating blaze at Burrabazar’s Nandaram Market was raging out of control over 50 hours after it started as a small fire in a shop. With explosions rocking the area every now and then — including a generator blast that shook the ground — there were fears the 13-storey building would collapse. The fire is surging closer to a topfloor room with 300 litres of diesel stored illegally. If it explodes, the consequences would be horrifying, say firemen. Stocks of naphtha are stoking the blaze. All residents and shopowners on nearby roads have been evacuated.

Despite the army joining forces with the firefighters, the blaze continued to rage, sweeping through the rear portion of the building which remains inaccessible to fire tenders.

The turn-table ladder, which had been lying idle since Saturday night, was finally pressed into service. It managed to douse the flames on the front but the fire raged on in the rear. By evening, the building looked on the brink of collapse. The army and fire brigade kept up a valiant fight. Water jets were fitted with extra pumps to reach the far corners of the top floor and the terrace. It seemed to work for some time but the flames were soon back. The firemen were helpless as they could not reach the rear and the turn-table ladder could not pass through the narrow lanes. The source of the fire is still undetected, forcing firemen to fight on blindly. Despite the chaos, the fire brigade did much better on Sunday. Water supply was streamlined. Fire engines had a continuous supply from Manohar Das Tarag, Lal Dighi and Mullickghat. But it proved too little. Late on Sunday evening, KMC started demolishing parts of the lower floors to let firemen operate. But the heat and the smoke beat back the spade brigade. The Burrabazar police station has started an inquiry to check for sabotage. Some traders alleged the building’s owner, Manik Sethia, had links with a promoter who was keen on developing the property. A case was registered against Sethia for illegally storing diesel in the building. No arrests have been made yet

excerpts from TOI.

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