A fire at the hanging restaurant atop Biswa Bangla Gate in New Town was brought under control within 30 minutes on Dashami evening after customers and staff were evacuated, while sparks falling towards the road below led police to divert traffic temporarily.
The fire broke out around 6.30pm when thick smoke began emerging from a section of the elevated restaurant. Sparks fell from the structure onto the main road at Biswa Bangla crossing, where vehicles were moving about 80 feet below, prompting traffic police to alert firefighters and cordon off the area.
One fire tender was sent to the site, and police and firefighters reached the structure within minutes. Officials said there were not many diners inside when the fire began and that customers and restaurant employees were evacuated before the situation could worsen. No injuries were reported and no major damage was recorded.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control in less than half an hour. Officials said the affected section was covered with fire-preventing cloth, which helped stop the flames from spreading to other parts of the restaurant and the gate structure.
The incident also disrupted movement along the arterial road below the landmark. Traffic was diverted while sparks were falling and the area was assessed for safety. Normal vehicular movement resumed after the fire was extinguished and officials declared the road safe.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established. Fire officials said a short circuit was among the possibilities being examined. The West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation, which operates and maintains Biswa Bangla Gate and its hanging restaurant, is investigating the incident with fire department officials.
The inquiry will examine whether the fire originated from a kitchen malfunction or an electrical fault. The restaurant has been closed and will reopen only after safety maintenance work is completed, officials said.
A formal safety audit of the premises is also planned. The audit is expected to assess the existing fire-safety arrangements at the elevated restaurant and identify measures required to prevent a recurrence. The announced review is significant because the restaurant is located above a busy public thoroughfare, making evacuation, firefighting access and falling debris control central to the response.
Authorities have not yet released a final report on the cause of the fire or specified a reopening date for the restaurant. The investigation and safety audit will determine the next steps before operations resume.
