Burrabazar fire still raging on

The fire at the Nandaram market at Burrabazar, which is the biggest wholesale market of Kolkata, was still smouldering, 36 hours after it broke out.

Kolkata, Jan 13 : The fire at the Nandaram market at Burrabazar, which is the biggest wholesale market of Kolkata, was still smouldering, 36 hours after it broke out.

The fire was raging on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th floor of Nandaram market.

The fire fighters said water scarcity was posing a major problem as they had to bring water by a relay system from the Mullickghat pumping station which hampered their work.

An explosion in the generator room on the 12th floor of the building was feared as huge quantity of diesel was stored there.

Fire fighting department said it may take another two days to curb the fire.

"We are trying our best to ensure that the fire did not reach the stocked diesel in the generator room", fire fighters said.

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

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,on Saturday West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi accompanied by Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta visited the wholesale market 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.

ANI