Thirty fire tenders have been pressed into service to douse the fire at the over 60-year-old building. Key Highlights No loss of life has been reported but two fire fighters suffered minor injuries during the operation to douse the blaze, the fire department said. The market is around a kilometre away from the Writers' Building and the Reserve Bank of India office, a senior fire official said. KOLKATA: A massive fire erupted early Sunday at the multi-storey building, which houses nearly 1,000 business establishments, in the congested Bagree Market here. No loss of life has been reported but two fire fighters suffered minor injuries during the operation to douse the blaze, the fire department said. The market is around a kilometre away from the Writers' Building and the Reserve Bank of India office, a senior fire official said. Director general of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services, Jagmohan, said it will take 24 to 48 hours to douse the blaze. "We need time to contain the flames as four to five floors of the building are completely engulfed in fire. The shops were stacked with inflammable materials like plastic toys, deodorants, fabrics and chemicals," he said. Thirty fire tenders have been pressed into service to douse the fire at the over 60-year-old building. "We are doing our best to tackle the situation. Initially, water was sprayed from outside. But now, we have managed to enter the building. Also, two firemen have received minor injuries during the operation," Jagmohan said. The fire which broke out around 2.30 am on the ground floor of the building on Canning Street quickly spread to the other floors, he said. "As the area is very congested, we are finding it difficult to work. We are using ladders and gas cutters to enter the building through window grills. A forensic team will be visiting the site soon to ascertain the cause behind the incident," the senior fire official said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee , who left for business summits in Germany and Italy around 9.45 am, told reporters at the airport, "Nobody is trapped in the building." Unconfirmed reports said people living on the top floor of the building managed to escape as soon as the fire broke out. Located near Burrabazar area -- the commercial hub of the city -- the six-storey building has as many entry gates. Fearing that the blaze may spread, people were also evacuated from adjacent buildings. A few shop owners alleged that fire officials took time to start the operation. Some were also seen trying to enter the building forcefully, but were stopped by police and fire department officials. Anil Mehta, one of the shop owners, said, "I have lost everything in the blaze. My store as well as the godown has been gutted in the fire." Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, who reached the spot along with senior police officers and Kolkata disaster management group (DMG) officials, told reporters that market authorities had not installed fire safety equipment despite warnings. "We have visited Bagree Market several times and asked the shop owners to take precautions. The fire department had also recommended steps in this regard. However, no such measures were taken," he said. Asked if he would take any action against the defaulters, the mayor replied in the affirmative. "The incident could have been averted if safety measures were taken on time. The market authorities will be held accountable for the blaze. As of now, we are trying our best but fire fighting operation is tough here because of the sheer number of buildings," he stated. Traffic restrictions have been imposed in the area. "Due to a fire incident, Rabindra Sarani in between MG Road & Podder Court and Canning Street in between Brabourne Road & Rabindra Sarani are closed to traffic," the Kolkata Traffic police department tweeted.<doc-sep>A massive fire broke out in Bagree market in Kolkata at around 3 am on Sunday. The multi-storey building which houses more than 2,000 shops was still on fire at the time of filing this report. The flames had been raging for the past few hours. Thirty fire engines were called in to douse the flames in the congested area. Residents of the area said the fire broke out on the ground floor of the building on Canning Street and quickly spread to other floors due to stocks of inflammable material. Locals complained that fire officials were not cooperating at first. One of the witnesses, Adnan said, "Only two fire engines showed up earlier and gave up saying they do not have adequate provisions. We had been calling the fire station multiple times but no one responded." Thirty fire engines were called in to douse the flames. Property worth crores of rupees was destroyed in the flames. Bagree market mostly comprises of medicine, perfume and plastic shops. To assess the area, Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee visited the area early in the morning. "The fire broke out at 2.45 am. We are trying our best to douse the fire but it is tough because of too many buildings in the area." Black smoke engulfed the area leaving people panicked. About 2,000 shops in the area were speculated to have been affected by the fire. "Even after 12 hours, the fire has not been doused completely. We need to find out the source of this massive fire, estimate the losses and then figure out if it was possible to have prevented it," said TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while leaving for her Europe trip, told reporters at the airport, "Nobody is trapped in the building. Also, no reports of any casualties or injuries have reached us." "It is a big mishap. We are trying to put out the fire. It is a big challenge. We have additional fire tenders. Locals and businessmen have been told several times to take precautionary measures but nothing has been done," Bandyopadhyay said. "We need to know whether it could have been stopped. I feel those who have business here are not interested in using the latest equipment. The administration has given guidelines and they will be made more stringent now," he said. The BJP claimed the fire was a result of the administration's callous attitude towards businessmen. BJP leader Ritesh Tiwari said, "We want to know why the administration has not taken proper steps till now." Traffic restrictions have been imposed in Rabindra Sarani; between MG Road, Poddar Court and Canning Street and between Brabourne Road and Rabindra Sarani. Canning Street near Burrabazar is one of the major trading hubs of the city. Also read: Mamata's epic U-turn: After initial denial, accepts negligence on part of PWD over Majerhat Bridge collapse Also read: Trucks barred entry into Kolkata after Majerhat Bridge collapse Watch: Bengal BJP workers burn Mamata effigy over Majerhat bridge collapse<doc-sep>Kolkata’s Bagree Market fire: The fire personnel also sprayed water on the adjacent buildings, to control the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings. (Express photo by Partha Paul) Kolkata’s Bagree Market fire: The fire personnel also sprayed water on the adjacent buildings, to control the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings. (Express photo by Partha Paul) Over twenty-four hours later, the fire that began at Kolkata’s Bagree market continues to rage. Over 60 firefighters have been pressed into service as the blaze spread to other parts of the market, located in congested Canning Street. No casualty has been reported, but the operation has left two firefighters injured. Poor fire safety measures and inflammable material stashed in the five-storey building posed a serious hindrance while dousing the fire. A senior police officer, who visited the area, said the situation has improved Monday and firemen are still working to tame the flames. It may take several hours more to fight the fire, a senior official of the fire department told PTI. Goods estimated to be worth crores turned to ash and several shops in the market — considered one of the country’s largest wholesale hubs — were gutted, said police sources. According to the police, the fire broke out at around 2.30 am on the first floor of the building, and quickly spread to the floors above. As many as 30 fire tenders were rushed to the spot within half an hour, but the narrow lanes and mesh of overhead wires made it a difficult operation. The area was also enveloped in thick, black smoke. SEE PHOTOS | A day later, fire at Kolkata’s Bagree Market yet to be contained No one was present in the building when the fire broke out, and a few security guards who lived on the top floor were reported to have escaped in time. Disaster management and civil defence teams were also pressed into action. Kolkata’s Bagree Market fire: According to the police, the fire broke out at around 2.30 am on the first floor of the building, and quickly spread to the floors above. (Express photo by Partha Paul) Kolkata’s Bagree Market fire: According to the police, the fire broke out at around 2.30 am on the first floor of the building, and quickly spread to the floors above. (Express photo by Partha Paul) Firefighters used gas cutters to cut through the shutters and grilles to get access from outside. The fire personnel also sprayed water on the adjacent buildings, to control the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings. A massive fire broke out at Kolkata’s Bagri market on Sunday. Firefighters used gas cutters to cut through the shutters and grilles to get access from outside. No casualties have been reported so far. Express Video by Partha Paul Read more: https://t.co/zBOmaIWm8l pic.twitter.com/XJ8s7qmRK2 — The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) September 17, 2018 Fire Minister and Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Sovan Chatterjee said, “We have sent notices, held meetings with traders and businessmen pleading with them to install adequate firefighting systems in buildings, including the Bagree market. Had they listened to us, this would have been avoided.”<doc-sep>A fireman has been injured in an ongoing firefighting operation in a six storied building with over 400 shops in it in Kolkata’s Canning Street ten hours after it started early Sunday. Thirty five fire engines have been deployed to put out the blaze. There were no other injuries because no one was present when the fire broke out in Bagree Market, a part of Burabazar, Kolkata’s largest trading hub. “One fire fighter has been injured,” said fire services minister and Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee. He refused to be drawn into a discussion on who was responsible for inadequate fire fighting infrastructure, but claimed that the government earlier hauled up the owners of the building over inadequate fire fighting measures. “The fire fighting arrangement in the building was insufficient. They did not take steps despite repeated warnings,” said Jag Mohan, director general, fire and emergency services. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday there was no report of anybody being trapped inside the Bagree Market. “Nobody is trapped in the building. Also, no report of any casualty or injury has reached us. Steps are being taken. Fire will be controlled soon,” she said. Fire breaks out of a window as firefighters try to extinguish at Bagree Market in Kolkata, India, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP) Even as firefighters fought to control the blaze, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she hoped the fire would be contained soon. “The fire started around 3 am. But there were no casualties, and none is trapped inside. The Kolkata Police commissioner informed me. Fires can take place. But the flames may be contained soon,” Banerjee said at the Kolkata airport enroute to Frankfurt and Milan. She will be out of the country till September 28. But on the ground, there was no certainty when the fire could be controlled. “The fire fighters are doing their best but they are having difficulty because a lot of materials are stored inside the building,” said Chatterjee. All floors of the building were in flames but the cause of the fire is not known. Locals alleged that the fire engines were late to reach the site which is extremely congested. Till 8:30 am fire fighters could enter only till the first floor. The fire started at ground floor and spread quickly due to huge stock of inflammable articles like perfumes, toiletries. Locals say there are well over 400 shops in the building out of which, about 175 shops deal is pharmaceutical products. There are also jewellery and cosmetics shops in the building. Firefighters try to douse a fire that broke out in a multi-storied wholesale Bagree market, at Burrabazar in Kolkata, Sunday, Sept 16, 2018. (PTI) An occupant of a building opposite the one which caught fire claimed that deodorant cans bursting like crackers soon after the fire started. “Cans flew to the third and fourth floors on the other side of the road,” he said. Firemen tried to use hydraulic ladders to fight the blaze, but a dense network of power and TV cables dangling overhead made their deployment impossible. “All floors of the building are full of highly inflammable articles. The ladder was of not any use due to the mesh of cables. We are directing jets from the adjacent building. We are now trying to enter the building,” said a fire fighter. “You can see the situation here. It is extremely congested and people store people even on the pavements impeding movement. The network of overhead cables also prevented the ladders from the used properly,” said mayor Chatterjee. Firefighters try to douse a fire that broke out in a multi-storied wholesale Bagree market, at Burrabazar in Kolkata, Sunday, Sept 16, 2018. (PTI) Twenty fire engines were sent initially to the site of the fire at Canning Street, but as the flames increased more fire engines were pressed into service. “Till 4 am, there was no supply of water. That was a crucial time window when the fire spread,” alleged a representative of the market association. Police have closed the area for vehicular traffic. Burabazar has witnessed major fires earlier. In April 2003, a devastating fire broke out in the Satyanarayan Park underground AC Market in the area that raged for three days. In January 2008, Nandaram Market, another standalone building like Bagree Market, caught fire. As many as 42 fire engines were pressed to battle the blaze that continued for days and destroyed thousands of shops.<doc-sep>
Firefighters try to douse a fire that broke out at a footwear factory in an industrial area in New Delhi, India (REUTERS) A massive fire broke out in a multi-storey building, which houses mainly medicine and perfume shops, early Sunday in the congested Bagri Market in the central part of Kolkata, a senior official of the fire department said. No casualty has been reported so far, he said. Thirty fire tenders have been pressed into service to douse the fire in the building that houses over 400 business establishments at the wholesale market "As the area is very congested, we are finding it difficult to work. We are using hydraulic ladders and gas cutters to cut through grills of gates and small windows to enter the building," the senior official said. The fire broke out around 2.30 am on the ground floor of the building on Canning Street and spread to other floors quickly, he said. "Even after six hours, we are finding it difficult to contain the fire. A forensic team will be visiting the site to ascertain the cause of the fire. As innumerable inflammable articles were stacked inside the building, the blaze spread quickly," he added. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters at the airport, "Nobody is trapped in the building. Also, no report of any casualty or injury has reached us". Unconfirmed reports said people, who resided in the top floor of the building, managed to escape as soon as the fire broke out. A few angry shop owners alleged that the fire officials took time to start the operation. Anil Mehta, one of the shop owners, said, "I have lost everything in the blaze just before Durga Puja. My store as well as a godown was gutted in the fire." Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, who reached the spot along with senior police officers, told reporters that fire brigade personnel were working hard to contain the blaze. "We are trying our best but fire fighting operation is tough here because of the number of buildings," he stated. Traffic restrictions have been imposed in the area owing to the fire. "Due to a fire incident, Rabindra Sarani in between MG Road & Podder Court and Canning Street in between Brabourne Road & Rabindra Sarani are closed to traffic," the Kolkata Traffic police department tweeted.