Kolkata, August 31: A fire erupted at a food stall in the bustling Sealdah Station area in central Kolkata on Monday, causing chaos among passengers. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties from this incident.
The fire started around 9:20 AM, coinciding with a heavy influx of commuters heading to their offices and workplaces, as Sealdah is one of the key railway junctions connecting the state capital with its suburbs.
Three fire engines rushed to the scene to control the blaze, with more units on the way. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities. However, panic ensued as the fire broke out during peak hours when thousands of people were present at the station.
A fire department official present at the scene informed the media that thick smoke was observed coming from the food stall around 9:20 AM. The official stated, “The smoke quickly spread throughout the station area. Passengers panicked and began to scream. The fire department was alerted, and three fire engines arrived promptly.”
He noted that the level of panic among passengers was much greater than the fire’s intensity. “The situation could have been serious, as several other stalls and shops nearby contained flammable materials. Therefore, our primary objective was to prevent the fire from spreading, which we successfully achieved,” he added.
Officials claim that the shop near the fire had minimal safety measures in place. They also mentioned a lack of adequate water supply for firefighting efforts. “The fire department is using its own water to extinguish the flames. Currently, no flames are visible from outside,” they reported.
Earlier this month, West Bengal witnessed two major fire incidents, both resulting in the loss of nine lives each. The first occurred at a hotel in Tarapith, Birbhum district, and the second at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata.
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