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Facing criticism over an alleged four‑hour delay in tackling the Khidirpur market blaze, West Bengal fire minister Sujit Bose has dismissed the charge as politically motivated. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Bose said the fire brigade moved “immediately” after receiving the first alert around 1 am.
Bose argued that if he could reach the site by 3 am, the engines could not have arrived at 5 am as claimed by opposition leaders. “Some people are trying to score political points from a tragedy,” he said, adding that preliminary logs show the first engine was dispatched within minutes.
The minister acknowledged that narrow lanes and the market’s congested layout slowed positioning of equipment but insisted crews worked continuously to stop the flames from spreading. He also noted that LPG cylinders stored inside stalls intensified the fire, requiring extra caution.
An internal timeline from the fire and emergency services is being compiled for public release. Bose urged patience until the report is finished and reiterated that any proven lapse would be dealt with “strictly and transparently.”
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West Bengal
Bihar
Uttar Pradesh
Jharkhand