A fire broke out at a market in Kolkata’s Bagha Jatin area early on Monday, prompting the deployment of 15 fire tenders. The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no reports of deaths or injuries, fire brigade officials said.
The fire was first spotted at around 4.30am, when the market was not reported to be operating at normal daytime levels. Fire services sent multiple tenders to the location to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading through the market premises.
A fire brigade official said the blaze had been brought under control in under an hour. “There was no report of casualties,” the official said, according to a report by PTI published by The Telegraph Online.
The extent of damage to the market, including the number of shops or structures affected, was not specified in the initial report. No details were immediately available on whether nearby buildings, roads or local services were disrupted during the firefighting operation.
The cause of the fire had not been conclusively established. Another official said a preliminary investigation suggested that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze, but the final cause was yet to be ascertained. The distinction is significant because the initial assessment does not constitute a confirmed finding.
The response involved 15 fire tenders, indicating a substantial firefighting operation for an early-morning market fire. Fire brigade personnel worked to bring the flames under control before the incident resulted in reported casualties.
The incident adds to the safety risks faced by market areas, where closely packed commercial spaces can complicate access and firefighting operations. However, the material supplied in the initial report does not establish whether the market had previous fire-safety violations, whether electrical infrastructure had been inspected, or whether any enforcement action was planned.
Officials had not announced a final assessment of the cause or damage at the time of reporting. Further details are expected after the fire services complete their investigation and authorities assess the affected market premises.
