Fire at showroom in Kolkata, 22 cars gutted; no casualties reported

Kolkata, Aug 24 (IANS) A major fire broke out early Monday morning at a car showroom in Bankra near the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, in which 22 new cars were gutted, and eight others badly damaged.

However, no casualties were reported, although the fire at the car showroom took an alarming shape early this morning.

A total of eight fire tenders reached the spot and, after hours of rigorous fire-fighting, managed to bring the fire under control. At the time the report was filed, the cooling process was being conducted, and the fire-fighters were trying to locate the hidden fire-pockets within the completely gutted showroom, if any.

A state fire services department official said that the fire was first spotted at around 5 a.m. by some local people. “The nearest fire services station was informed immediately, and five fire tenders reached the spot and started the fire-fighting exercise. Later, three other fire tenders joined. Initially, our task was difficult as we had to concentrate simultaneously on dousing the showroom fire and also prevent the fire from spreading to the adjacent constructions. Since the entry point to the showroom was quite narrow, our men faced some initial difficulties. However, the situation is under control now,” the official said.

The question has surfaced now whether the showroom had any fire-fighting system or not. Fire officials said that no one from the service centre was found at the scene during the entire firefighting exercise.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation. Once the showroom authorities are questioned, it will be clear whether there were adequate fire-safety measures in the showroom or not,” the fire services department official said.

West Bengal witnessed two major hotel fire incidents earlier this month, taking a toll of 18 lives, nine in each case. The first fire was at Hotel Bideshini at Tarapith in Birbhum district near the iconic Goddess Tara temple there.

The second fire incident was at Hotel Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata, in which nine individuals, including seven Bangladeshi nationals, were killed.

–IANS

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