Kolkata, Oct. 23 -- A major fire broke out in a slum Atghara area, located close to the City Centre 2 mall in New Town, on Friday.
The incident, which occurred around 3:30 pm, triggered widespread panic across the congested locality as a series of successive LPG cylinder explosions tore through the settlement. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.
According to sources, the blaze is suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit in one of the dwellings. Within minutes, thick plumes of dark smoke filled the sky, visible from major thoroughfares and nearby high-rises. The situation turned critical when domestic gas cylinders inside the shanties began exploding. The loud blasts caused a stampede-like situation as panicked residents fled their homes to safety.
Three fire tenders were pressed into action alongside a massive contingent of police personnel from the Baguiati and Eco Park police stations to cordon off the area.
Firefighters worked on a war footing and managed to bring the raging flames under control within an hour. Local MLA Piyush Kanodia visited the site in the evening to review the situation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.