Kolkata, Oct. 22 -- A major disaster was narrowly averted on Wednesday evening after a sudden fire broke out at the famous hanging restaurant atop the New Town Gate at Narkelbagan in New Town.
The incident, which occurred around 6:30 pm, led to the swift evacuation of approximately 50 people, including diners and restaurant staff. No casualties or injuries were reported.
The fire reportedly originated in the lower portion of the hanging steel structure, situated nearly 25 metre above the ground. As thick smoke billowed from the landmark, sparks and embers began falling onto the busy Major Arterial Road (MAR) below, triggering panic among pedestrians and motorists.
Traffic police immediately cordoned off the intersection and diverted vehicular movement to prevent secondary accidents. Multiple fire tenders and teams from the New Town and Techno City police stations rushed to the spot. Using emergency exit routes, rescue personnel successfully brought down all trapped occupants.
Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Rathod Amit Kumar Bharat visited the spot and took stock of the situation. The situation was brought under control swiftly and traffic underneath the gate was restored later in the night. A joint team from the Fire department and the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) has launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire, with officials suspecting an electrical short-circuit. A comprehensive safety and structural audit of the landmark has been ordered before the restaurant is permitted to reopen.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.