Raiganj, Sept. 15 -- Tension prevailed in Islampur after a major fire broke out at a shopping mall near the Islampur Municipality bus terminus in North Dinajpur district on Tuesday morning. The incident triggered panic among local residents as thick smoke billowed from the building.
After being informed, police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and launched firefighting operations. Two fire service employees reportedly sustained injuries while attempting to enter the mall after breaking a glass barrier.
A large quantity of garments and other materials inside the mall were reportedly reduced to ashes. According to local residents, the fire was first noticed on the second floor of the building, following which the police were alerted.
A section of locals claimed that the fire might have originated from an electrical transformer of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited. Sambhunath Gope, a fire official in Islampur, said: "The actual reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. We have started an investigation."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.