A transformer caught fire in the Panditpara area of Chakchatta under the Kalitala Asuti police station limits in South 24 Parganas on Friday, sending flames and thick smoke into the locality and causing panic among residents.
According to Sanmarg – Kolkata, local people alerted the fire department after noticing the fire. Two fire engines and several firefighters reached the spot soon after the information was received and began efforts to control the blaze.
The intensity of the fire required firefighters to work for several hours before bringing it under control. The incident drew attention to the safety risks posed by fires involving electricity infrastructure in densely inhabited urban and peri-urban areas, where emergency access and the proximity of homes can affect response operations.
The cause of the transformer fire has not been established, according to the report. No casualties were reported in the incident, based on information cited by the publication.
The report did not provide details on the transformer’s capacity, the number of consumers connected to it, whether electricity supply was disrupted, or whether the installation sustained damage requiring replacement. It also did not state whether the electricity distribution authority had begun a technical inspection.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control after the prolonged operation. Further information on the cause of the fire and restoration or maintenance work, if required, was not available in the supplied report.
