Fire breaks out at Temple chamber near Calcutta High Court

A sudden fire broke out at the Temple Chamber near Calcutta High Court around 2 PM on April 10, sparking panic among lawyers and court visitors. Dense black smoke was seen billowing from the meter box area, quickly engulfing the court premises. The incident led to chaos as people rushed out of the building, fearing for their safety.

Lawyers, some of whom had chambers in the Temple Chamber complex, fled the building amid the confusion. Several prominent legal professionals, including Vikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, have their offices in the affected block, raising concerns about the safety of sensitive legal documents stored there.

Two fire engines were immediately dispatched to the site. Firefighters worked swiftly and managed to bring the blaze under control within a short span. No injuries have been reported so far. Authorities praised the quick response of the fire brigade which likely prevented further escalation.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the meter box. However, a detailed inspection is underway to confirm the exact cause. As of now, the extent of material damage—particularly to documents and chambers—is still being assessed.

The fire incident has raised questions about the electrical safety standards in old buildings around the High Court area. Advocates’ associations are expected to push for safety audits and better infrastructure to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Despite the scare, court proceedings resumed shortly after the fire was contained. However, concerns remain over potential data loss and document safety from the affected chambers.