Congress gherao KMC Borough 5 office protesting Burrabazar fire, clash with cops

The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday held a protest outside Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s Borough No. 5 office over the recent Burrabazar fire that claimed 14 lives. The protest began with a march from in front of Calcutta University and was led by Pradesh Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar, along with senior leaders Santosh Pathak, Omprakash Jaiswal, and a large number of women workers. The protestors raised slogans and demanded action from civic authorities, blaming the state government and KMC for negligence.

According to the Congress, the fire broke out due to the failure of authorities to monitor illegal constructions in the Burrabazar area. Protesters alleged that restaurant owners had enclosed rooftops to increase capacity and profits, putting safety at risk. “Is the Mayor unaware that so many lives have been lost?” asked Sarkar during the demonstration. Protesters claimed that the administration failed to enforce building safety norms despite the area being in central Kolkata. They held the state government accountable for continuing inaction even after multiple fatalities.

A confrontation occurred outside the Borough 5 office between protesters and police. Congress workers sat on the road after the scuffle and continued their demonstration. No injuries were reported. Congress has demanded strict municipal audits in commercial zones and accountability from KMC. The party has stated that it will continue protests if no action is taken.