Massive fire at Mangalahat, East India's largest garment market in Howrah; 18 fire tenders deployed

A devastating fire erupted on Friday night in Mangalahat, Howrah district, West Bengal, reducing many cloth shops to ashes. Mangalahat, the largest garment market in Eastern India, attracts textile traders from Jharkhand, Bihar, and Eastern India.

Local sources reported the sudden outbreak of fire in the market, leading to the dispatch of 18 fire engines. The inferno, fueled by flammable materials, spread rapidly, causing extensive damage to the bamboo and wood structures of the shops.

Authorities suspect a short circuit as the possible cause and launched an investigation. Despite the presence of the Ganga river nearby, the fire caused substantial losses, amounting to several crores of rupees.

The tragedy has deeply affected textile traders, who heavily rely on the market for their livelihood. Every Sunday and Monday, traders from neighboring states gather at Mangalahat to conduct garment business. This incident has caused distress among Kolkata's textile traders, who were already recovering from the impact of the pandemic.

This is not the first time Mangalahat has faced such a disaster, raising concerns about the market's fire safety measures. The incident has left traders grappling with the loss of their hard-earned capital, further exacerbating their financial woes.