Kolkata, May 12 (PTI) Two persons were killed and three others suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out at a multi-storey building in Kolkata’s Tiljala area on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has directed the police to lodge an FIR into the incident. The state government has also ordered a departmental probe.
The fire erupted on the first floor of the building which was used as a leather godown around 1.45pm, and the flames spread within moments, engulfing the area in thick black smoke, a police officer said.
“Five persons, who were trapped in the building, entered a bathroom to escape the flames, but dense smoke created a suffocating atmosphere inside,” a fire department official said.
Fire fighters rescued them and they were rushed to state-run National Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared two of the injured dead, he said.
The three other injured persons are undergoing treatment.
Soon after the incident, the chief minister issued an order, directing the Kolkata Police to immediately register an FIR in connection with the blaze, which caused “substantial loss of life and property”.
The state government has also constituted a four-member departmental committee to conduct a detailed inquiry and survey of the site, and examine relevant documents.
The panel comprises the additional chief secretary of the MSME Department, the additional chief secretary of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, the commissioner of Kolkata Police and the municipal commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
A senior state government official said the committee would look into whether the unit had the required fire safety measures and statutory clearances in place.
“The committee has been asked to submit its report by 11 am on May 13,” the official said.
Four fire tenders took around two hours to douse the flames, officials said. PTI SCH RBT
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