Kolkata experienced another major scare on Friday morning as a fire broke out at a bookstore in Acropolis Mall, marking the second significant blaze in the city within four days. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported as the mall, including the adjacent office tower, was promptly evacuated.
The incident occurred around noon at Crossword, a bookstore located on the mezzanine level between the third and fourth floors of Acropolis Mall in Kasba. Shoppers, cine-goers, shopkeepers, and mall staff, along with several thousand office workers in the building, were swiftly evacuated as toxic smoke began to envelop the premises. The evacuation process, completed within 20 minutes, was crucial in averting a potential disaster.
The fire is suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, exacerbated by the presence of inflammable items such as books and stuffed toys. Despite initial attempts by the mall staff to combat the blaze using extinguishers and water hoses, it became evident that external assistance was needed, prompting a call to the fire brigade.
Firefighters arrived promptly, deploying 15 fire tenders and two hydraulic lifts to tackle the blaze. The operation involved 150 firemen and 100 civil defence and disaster management personnel, who managed to contain the fire by 2 pm. Although the entire bookstore was gutted, no other shops in the mall sustained damage. Firemen had to break open the glass facade and use smoke extractors to clear the air, allowing them to safely enter and extinguish the fire.
The state fire department has launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze. While an electrical short circuit remains the primary suspect, there are considerations that the use of a welding machine on a lower floor could have ignited the fire. A state government fire official emphasised that necessary actions would be taken if any negligence in the fire-fighting system is detected. “It could have been a disaster had people not been evacuated on time,” the official stated after inspecting the damaged portion of the building. In total, 5,900 individuals were safely evacuated from the mall and the office tower.
The incident quickly became the talk of the town, with many sharing photos and videos of the smoking mall on social media. Motorists slowed down to catch a glimpse of the scene, but police efficiently directed traffic to ensure smooth movement on the Rashbehari Avenue connector. Fire tenders and other emergency vehicles were strategically parked on adjacent roads to manage the situation.
Police also ensured that the dispersal of students from nearby DPS Ruby Park and Garden High School was not disrupted, providing emergency channels for school buses and pool cars to pick up students and leave promptly.