Burrabazar fire revives Nandaram memories
A major disaster was averted due to the alertness of local residents, and the prompt action of fire brigade officials, as a fire similar to the Nandaram Building fire
Kolkata: A major disaster was averted due to the alertness of local residents, and the prompt action of fire brigade officials, as a fire similar to the Nandaram Building fire - the worst fire in living memory - that gutted a market complex in Burrabazar five months back, broke out today morning in a market complex in Burrabazar, barely a stone's throw from Nandaram.15 fire engines managed to douse the flames after about four hours. Though no casualties were reported, but a large portion of the building and goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in the fire. Two persons also received minor burn injuries while trying to douse the flames. They were administered first-aid at a nearby hospital.
The fire broke out in a chemical godown housed in Mehta Building in Burrabazar area at about 11 this morning. As the godown had not opened for the day's business, there was a delay in removing the chemical bottles, due to which the fire started intensifying. However, alert locals started spraying fire extinguishers, and managed to limit the fire only to one godown.
Locals believe that Monday's overnight rain had managed to seep inside the godown through the windows, and apparently the reaction of water on the chemicals caused the fire.
According to eye-witnesses, around 11 am, a cloud of smoke was noticed billowing out of the window of the godown on the first floor of the building. Mohammad Rizwan, a trader operating from the building, said “The godown was not open when the fire broke out. The owners Partho Sen and Mahesh Gandhi came about 20 minutes after the fire broke out, and we managed to open the locks only after they arrived with the keys. We would have been able to restrict the fire more had the godown been open.”
The fact that the godown was stacked with chemicals acted as a hindrance in extinguishing the fire. Irfan Ghani, president of the Mehta Building Traders' Association, told Headlines India, “We emptied about 20 bottles of fire extinguishers, but that was not enough to douse the flames. Neither we, nor the fire fighters could use water to extinguish the fire as even a drop of water falling on the chemicals was causing explosions. Water was used only after the flames died down.”
Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury, a senior fire official, said “The traders have been very co-operative with us, and thus we managed to prevent a disaster. We rescued about 60 people who were trapped in the building, and managed to shift them to a safe place through the terrace of the building. 15 fire engines have managed to bring the fire under control after a continuous struggle of about four hours.”
A major disaster was averted in Burrabazar today, but this fire has once again raised eyebrows at the lack of administrative initiative and infrastructure facilities in a crowded trade hub like Burrabazar. Thousands of claustrophobic shops are crammed in the area along dingy lanes, where several traders earn their livelihood. Ironically, even though Burrabazar is the largest trade hub in eastern India, none of the old buildings are equipped with modern fire-fighting facilities.
The Nandaram Building fire had led to a lot of hue and cry, with people from all quarters questioning the adequacy of safety measures in Burrabazar. Even the administration had announced surveys in all the marketplaces of Burrabazar, in order to find out the state of the old buildings located in the area, and make them equipped to fight accidents. However, today's fire has proved that even the Nandaram Building fire, which lasted for over 100 hours, has not managed to arouse the administration of its slumber.