West Bengal Governor visits gutted wholesale market in Kolkata

West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi visited the wholesale market in Kolkata, which was devastated after a major fire broke out in the wee hours of Saturday.

Kolkata, Jan 12 : West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi visited the wholesale market in Kolkata, which was devastated after a major fire broke out in the wee hours of Saturday.

Gandhi was accompanied by Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta at the Burrabazar area.

Around 2,500 shops and several buildings were gutted in the fire that broke out at a home at 2 a.m. today on Jamnalal Bajaj Street and quickly spread to other buildings.

No casualties have been reported in the blaze. Property damaged in the fire is estimated to be worth millions of rupees.

Fire brigade officials said that the fire has been brought under control after more than 12 hours.

Gandhi appreciated the efforts of the firemen engaged to douse the fire.

"Working without a single second wasted from the moment they came to know about the fire. It has been a non-stop operation. We have to say hats off to their reflexes and whatever possible under the circumstances is being done," said Gandhi.

At least 3,500 shops have been gutted and eight multi-storey buildings were damaged in the 'Tripalpatti' area of Burrabazzar.

The fire spread across the second, fifth, ninth and tenth floors of the nearby Nandalal Market that houses textile shops and godowns.

Forty-two fire engines of the West Bengal Fire Services and those of thermy, the Navy and the Airport Authority joined in the efforts to douse the blaze.

A rescue team from the BSF has also reached the spot along with the team from the Disaster Management Cell.

Meanwhile, Calcutta Police Commissioner Gautam Chakravorty said that the detective department would conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire, which is yet to be ascertained.

ANI