Fire rages on at Kolkata's Bagree Market, two firemen sustain minor injuries

A massive fire erupted early Sunday at the multi-storey building, which houses nearly 1,000 business establishments, in the congested Bagree Market here.

No loss of life has been reported but two fire fighters suffered minor injuries during the operation to douse the blaze, the fire department said.

The market is around a kilometre away from the Writers' Building and the Reserve Bank of India office, a senior fire official said.

Director general of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services, Jagmohan, said it will take 24 to 48 hours to douse the blaze.

"We need time to contain the flames as four to five floors of the building are completely engulfed in fire. The shops were stacked with inflammable materials like plastic toys, deodorants, fabrics and chemicals," he said.

Thirty fire tenders have been pressed into service to douse the fire at the over 60-year-old building.

"We are doing our best to tackle the situation. Initially, water was sprayed from outside. But now, we have managed to enter the building. Also, two firemen have received minor injuries during the operation," Jagmohan said.

The fire which broke out around 2.30 am on the ground floor of the building on Canning Street quickly spread to the other floors, he said.

"As the area is very congested, we are finding it difficult to work. We are using ladders and gas cutters to enter the building through window grills. A forensic team will be visiting the site soon to ascertain the cause behind the incident," the senior fire official said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who left for business summits in Germany and Italy around 9.45 am, told reporters at the airport, "Nobody is trapped in the building."
Anil Mehta, one of the shop owners, said, "I have lost everything in the blaze. My store as well as the godown has been gutted in the fire."