A fire on the 28th floor of Tower 3 at Kolkata’s South City Complex prompted the evacuation of residents on Friday morning, with seven fire engines deployed to the high-rise on Prince Anwar Shah Road. The blaze was brought under control within 40 minutes and no injuries or casualties were reported, officials said.
The fire was spotted at around 9.15am in a storeroom inside the South City apartments, located near South City Mall in south Kolkata. Thick smoke spread through the area as firefighters and police personnel responded to the incident.
Residents of the 30-storey tower were evacuated as a precaution, with children and elderly people using the staircases after electricity supply to the building was disconnected. The power shutdown also left lifts unavailable during the evacuation.
Debashis Basu, general secretary of the South City Residents’ Association, confirmed that the fire had broken out in Tower 3 and said residents were being evacuated. Police from Jadavpur Police Station and fire brigade personnel reached the complex after the incident was reported.
Firefighters faced difficulties reaching the affected floor, according to the report. Seven fire tenders were used to tackle the blaze, which was eventually doused within 40 minutes. Officials said there were no injuries or casualties.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. A short circuit is suspected, but this has not been established as the confirmed cause. The extent of damage to the storeroom and the affected part of the tower is also yet to be ascertained.
The incident placed emergency response and evacuation procedures inside a large residential complex under immediate scrutiny. South City Complex comprises four residential towers, making access, power isolation and the movement of residents and fire crews important operational factors during a high-rise emergency.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire and assess the damage. Further details on the building’s condition and the findings of the investigation are awaited.
