Major fire in slum near Brace Bridge rly stn; no loss to life

A major fire broke out in a slum on Taratala Road along the Brace Bridge railway station this afternoon gutting around 100 thatched-roof dwellings, however no loss to life was reported even though train services were briefly affected.

Around 12 fire tenders fought for around two-and-half hours to douse the flames which broke out at around 3.15 PM, the police said.

While some of the displaced slum inhabitants took shelter at the railway station many sat on the tracks leading to a disruption in services on the Sealdah-Budge Budge route upto Akra, inconveniencing hundreds of commuters.

Train services could be partially resumed between Sealdah and Majherhat and Akra and Budge Budge stations after almost an hour of disruption, railways officials said.
 

"Fire has been doused but fire tenders are trying to put off a few pockets of fire. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and we are looking into it," a fire brigade official said.