Factory gutted,no casualty reported

A paper board manufacturing unit in the densely populated area in south Kolkata was gutted in a fire that broke out on Sunday afternoon. Fire fighters and members of Kolkata Police disaster management group brought the flames under control with the help of locals,two hours after the fire broke out. No one was injured.

Locals spotted smoke coming out of the factory located on Roy Bahadur Road at Behala,around 12.15pm. They then rescued those working in the factory. Ten fire tenders were initially pressed into service. Later,three more fire tenders reached the spot.

Since the area is densely populated and the entry to the factory is narrow,fire engines had difficulty reaching the spot on time.

Shortage of water caused hindrance in putting out the fire. Water had to be fetched from a nearby water body in the area. Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Sovon Chatterjee and state fire and emergency services department minister Jawed Ahmed Khan inspected the gutted factory.

A probe has been ordered. “The fire could have spread to neighbouring areas had the local people not helped fire fighters to douse the flames,” Khan said.