Fire destroys 16 shops in Alipurduar

At least 16 shops were gutted in a fire at Railgate locality in this town in Alipurduar district early today, the fire brigade said.

No casualty or injury was reported.

The blaze was noticed at about 1.40 AM and seven fire tenders fought for about four hours to control it by 6 AM.

Short circuit was suspected to be the cause of the blaze and firecrackers stacked in some of the shops in the wedding season helped spread the fire, the the fire brigade said.