The building on fire
The blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in a second-floor flat, spread rapidly to adjoining floors of the G+4 residential building, which has 24 flats. Firemen later rescued around 40 people from the smoke-filled building. Within about 20 minutes, the first three fire engines arrived.”
Residents said they heard several gas cylinders explode as flames engulfed parts of the complex. BJP functionery Masud Alam Khan said, “Hearing the residents screaming, we rushed over. Police identified the deceased as Gopa Mukherjee, who was alone in her flat when the fire broke out. Her family members were away at work. By then, the fire had already spread. I immediately called Domjur Police Station. We then began throwing water from a nearby pond.
Locals were the first to rush in and rescue some trapped residents before the fire brigade arrived.
A fire officer said, “around 3.45 pm, the fire came under control.
Residents alleged that the building has no fire extinguishers and said the only staircase is too narrow, which made evacuation difficult. Tridip Naskar, a resident, said, “First, there was a sudden power cut. Seven fire engines were pressed into service. Then everything was engulfed in flames and dense black smoke. My wife and I quickly came down the stairs.”
Howrah : A 65-year-old retired schoolteacher was burnt to death and another person suffered 60% burns after a fire broke out at Uddalok residential complex in Mourigram, Howrah, around 1 pm on Wednesday. Six others, who suffered suffocation and minor burns, were treated at Howrah District Hospital and discharged.