Mamata orders full probe after massive Ghuni Basti fire leaves 300 families homeless near Newtown

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered a complete investigation into the devastating fire that engulfed the Ghuni Basti area near Newtown on Wednesday night. Shortly after receiving information about the incident, she contacted Fire Minister Sujit Bose and directed a full probe into the cause and circumstances surrounding the blaze. The fire left a large section of the community in ruins, with hundreds of residents losing their homes and belongings.

According to the administration, at least 300 families were affected, many of whom are currently sheltering in relief camps. District Magistrate Shashank Shetty and senior officials visited the site on Thursday morning, inspected the damage and spoke directly with victims. The administration assured that all necessary assistance would be extended to the affected residents, particularly in rebuilding crucial documents destroyed in the fire.

The fire tore through densely packed makeshift huts, with bamboo structures, tarpaulin roofs, and flammable materials contributing to its rapid spread. Gas cylinder explosions worsened the situation, intensifying the flames and making firefighting extremely difficult. More than ten fire brigade vehicles battled the blaze for hours, and although it was brought under control, smoke continued to rise from parts of the settlement on Thursday morning.

Authorities acknowledged that the loss of essential documents has caused additional stress amid concerns linked to the SIR environment. Officials promised that the process of reissuing documents will be initiated promptly to minimize inconvenience to the victims. The incident has reignited questions over fire safety and disaster preparedness in densely populated settlements.