Kolkata, Nov. 2 -- A devastating fire broke out at a multi-storeyed commercial building on Lyons Range in the heart of Kolkata's central business district late on Sunday night, causing extensive damage to the structure.
The building, located directly behind the historic Writers' Buildings, houses offices of four to five private companies. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.
The blaze was first noticed around midnight when security guards spotted thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the upper floors. The flames soon engulfed the fourth floor of the five-storey building. As the incident occurred late at night, the offices were empty, preventing what could have been a major tragedy.
The Hare Street police station and Fire Brigade were immediately informed. Ten fire engines were pressed into action in phases. Firefighters faced considerable difficulty while navigating the dense, smoke-filled interiors of the old building.
Equipped with specialised gas masks and smoke detectors, they battled the flames for several hours and brought the main blaze under control after nearly 12 hours. Cooling operations continued for another six hours before the fire was completely doused.
The forensic department has launched an official investigation into the incident. Preliminary assessments, however, suggest that a short circuit in the computer hardware network on the fourth floor may have triggered the fire.
Fire department officials also raised concerns over the building's inadequate internal firefighting systems, saying its old structure made it particularly vulnerable to electrical accidents. Traffic in the busy B.B.D. Bag area faced minor disruptions on Monday morning as emergency vehicles secured the affected area.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.