Three killed in fire at godown in Bengal

Kolkata, Jan 26 (PTI) At least three persons were killed in a fire at a godown in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Monday, police said.

The blaze in the godown, situated at Najirabad area under the Narendrapur police station limits in the outskirts of Kolkata, was brought under control after a seven-hour firefight, a senior police officer said.

Three bodies were recovered from the site during a search operation conducted by the police and fire brigade personnel, he said.

Baruipur Police District SP Shubhendu Kumar said the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained as the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

It will be possible to determine whether more people were trapped and killed in the blaze only after the debris is completely

cleared, he said.

Initially, six people were reported missing, but the whereabouts of the others remain unknown, he said.

Earlier in the day, Power Minister Aroop Biswas, who visited the spot, told reporters that only after the thick smoke clears, it can be verified whether anyone was trapped inside.

“Demolition squad of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have been brought in to break the walls to let the smoke out,” he said.

Twelve fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze, which was reported at 3 am, the official said. The blaze was brought under control around 10 am.

The cause of the blaze and the extent of damage are yet to be ascertained. The incident will be investigated, the officer said. PTI CORR AMR SUS NN BDC