Mamata asks for report on fire, announces compensation

The fire in Sealdah area in central Kolkata has claimed 18 lives, left several others injured

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today directed the police, fire brigade and the municipal corporation to submit a report on the fire at a market here within three days and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of those who died.

"A compensation of Rs 2 lakh will be paid to the kin of those who have died in the fire and Rs 50,000 to those injured," Banerjee said after visiting the market, housing a godown-cum-office complex, in the Sealdah area in central Kolkata, where the inferno has already claimed 18 lives and left several others injured.

Banerjee said that the Kolkata Police, Fire Brigade and Kolkata Municipal Corporation have been asked to file a joint report on the fire within three days.

The Chief Minister urged people, who sleep in markets in the night to be more careful and take precautionary measures like not to light a fire near inflammable materials.

"They should be more careful. Mischief makers also can cause damage," she said.

"Everything will be investigated to find out the cause of the fire," she said before leaving for the Medical College morgue where the dead bodies have been taken.