A fire broke out in the upper portion of a multi-storey commercial building in Kolkata’s Lyons Range, behind the Writers’ Building, late on Sunday night, with firefighting operations continuing into Monday morning, according to Anandabazar. At least 10 fire engines were deployed at the site.
Local residents saw flames and thick black smoke emerging from the upper section of the building and alerted the police and fire brigade. The building is reportedly used mainly as offices by different organisations. The initial information indicates that the fire started in the office of one company.
The fire brigade has brought the blaze under control, but officials said cooling and related operations were still taking time. The cause of the fire and the manner in which it spread had not been established in the report. Fire personnel were examining the incident.
There was no immediate detailed information on whether anyone was trapped inside the building or the extent of damage caused by the fire. Since the incident occurred at night in a building primarily used for offices, it was believed that no one remained inside, although this had not been formally confirmed in the report.
The building’s location has heightened attention around the incident. Writers’ Building, the state’s former administrative headquarters, continues to house some government departments. The fire occurred immediately behind the complex in the central business area, where emergency access, building use and the presence of offices are important factors in any response.
The latest incident follows two other reported fires in Kolkata. On the previous Friday, a fire broke out in a flat on the 28th floor of Tower 3 inside the South City complex. Seven fire engines brought that blaze under control. Earlier, in September, a fire at a warehouse in Nawabpatti in north Kolkata involved stored chemicals and garment-making materials; 10 fire engines were used in the operation.
No casualties were reported in those two recent incidents, according to the report. Further details about injuries, property damage, the building’s fire-safety arrangements and the official cause of the Lyons Range fire were awaited as the fire brigade continued its assessment.
