Khidirpur locals angry over delayed response of Fire Brigades as 1300 shops gutted

Kolkata witnessed another major fire incident as a devastating blaze erupted in Khidirpur Bazar around 1 AM on Sunday night, quickly spreading across the densely packed commercial area. Locals estimate that an alarming 1,300 shops have been reduced to ashes in the inferno. The rapid spread was fueled by the presence of an oil warehouse within the market, which also succumbed to the flames, intensifying the conflagration.

Despite the deployment of 20 fire engines, firefighters struggled for hours to bring the situation under complete control. While the main flames were largely contained by morning, multiple "pocket fires" continued to smolder in different parts of the market, posing challenges to emergency services. The congested nature of the market area, coupled with the presence of highly flammable materials, contributed to the rapid escalation of the fire, turning shops into charred ruins within minutes.

The incident has left shopkeepers devastated, with many expressing anger over the perceived delay in the fire brigade's arrival. They claim that early intervention could have significantly minimized the damage. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or casualties in the incident. Police and local administration have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the property loss in this critical commercial hub of Kolkata.