Fire burns down at least 40 shops in South Kolkata's Baghajatin

Kolkata has once again witnessed a devastating fire, as the Ramgarh Market in Baghajatin was completely gutted, destroying at least 40 shops. The fire, which broke out late on Thursday night, is currently under control, though firefighters are still working to extinguish several "pocket fires" remaining in the debris. The exact cause of the massive conflagration is not fully clear, but the preliminary assumption by the fire department is that a short circuit in a Dashakarma (general utility) shop triggered the incident. The overnight destruction has resulted in losses amounting to several lakh rupees, leaving the affected traders devastated.

The fire began around 1:30 AM on Thursday night, quickly engulfing the Ramgarh market in fierce flames that caught the attention of locals. The fire service was immediately informed, and multiple fire tenders rushed to the spot. Firefighters faced considerable difficulty bringing the market blaze under control, finally succeeding in the early hours of Friday morning. Efforts are still ongoing to fully douse the remaining embers. The sudden, violent nature of the fire has caused immense shock and financial despair among the business community.

Upon receiving the news, local Councillor Bappaditya Dasgupta and MLA Debabrata Majumdar rushed to the scene. The Councillor stated that the market is approximately 40 years old and housed 40-50 shops, none of which had insurance. He announced that he would appeal to the government to stand by the traders for market reconstruction and financial compensation. The MLA echoed this sentiment, assuring that necessary arrangements would be made to support the affected families. This market, built on 57 katha of government land, represented the livelihood of many, who are now left distraught, salvaging remnants from the ashes.