Kolkata: Twelve shops were gutted in a fire in the Newtown area on the outskirts of Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday. However, no casualty was reported as no one was inside the shops at the time of the incident.
According to fire department officials, the fire broke out around 4.30 am near Mridha canal in the Newtown area. The fire was due to an LPG cylinder exploding in a food vending shop in the area.
The fire spread rapidly due to the presence of inflammable substances in these shops. Five fire brigades were rushed to the spot and the fire was brought under control within hours.
The sound of the LPG cylinder exploding caused panic among the people of the locality. As a precautionary measure, the electricity connection of the entire locality has been cut for the time being.
“The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained,” a fire brigade official said. But this was probably due to a short circuit in a food vending shop where LPG cylinders were kept.
Our initial goal was to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby areas and we were able to do that. The fire has now been completely brought under control and no casualties have been reported.
