Kolkata, May 12 -- In a tragic incident, two persons died and three others suffered serious burn injuries after a fire broke out in a multi-storey building in Kolkata's Topsia area on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased have been identified as Rajet Ali Molla (33) and Md Hasanur Zaman (35).
Five people were rescued unconscious from the building and shifted to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared two dead on arrival. The remaining three are undergoing treatment for burn injuries and smoke inhalation and are stated to be critical. The fire broke out around 1.46 pm at the office-cum-store room of a leather goods manufacturing unit on the first floor of a five-storey building at 50/1B/1, GJ Khan Road under Tiljala Police Station. Four fire tenders were pressed into service and the blaze was extinguished around 2.45 pm.
Police said around 30 workers were inside the premises when the fire broke out. While most escaped or were rescued, five people locked themselves inside a bathroom in panic. Thick smoke from burning leather and other materials soon filled the room, leaving them unconscious. Firefighters later broke open the door and rescued them. Police and fire officials suspect toxic smoke inhalation caused the deaths.
Three persons, including the unit's caretaker-cum-supervisor, were detained for questioning. Preliminary investigations revealed that the electrical wiring used to operate machinery at the unit did not have adequate load-bearing capacity. A forensic team will visit the spot on Wednesday to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
Police said the business was a partnership firm run by a father and his two sons, who lived on the fourth floor of the same building.
The state government directed Kolkata Police to lodge a specific FIR in connection with the incident. An order issued by the Chief Secretary said a departmental committee had been formed "to conduct a detailed survey of the site and examine all relevant documents connected with the incident".
The committee comprises the ACS of the MSME Department, the ACS of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, the Kolkata Police Commissioner and the Municipal Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. It has been asked to submit its report by 11 am on Wednesday. Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul visited the spot in the evening and instructed police to arrest the partners of the firm after being informed that the building allegedly lacked a sanctioned plan and that the business was operating without proper approvals.
"I won't allow anything like this to happen. People cannot die like this," Paul said, adding that similar illegal buildings across the state would be served notices and action would be taken against violators.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.