Massive Fire Engulfs Slum in Kolkata's Topsia Area, 15 Fire Tenders Rushed to Douse the Blaze

A massive fire broke out in a slum in Kolkata’s Topsia area on Friday afternoon, completely destroying a large section of the settlement. The blaze, which started around 12:50 PM near the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, affected nearly 150 shanties.

Fifteen fire tenders were deployed to control the flames. Thick black smoke blanketed the area as firefighters worked to contain the fire. The situation was exacerbated by the densely packed shanties, which were reportedly filled with flammable materials, making it difficult to stop the fire from spreading.

"The area was so congested that the fire trucks had difficulty reaching the spot, and had to take long detours to get closer," a fire brigade official explained. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported so far. The fire was eventually brought under control by 2:10 PM, after several hours of intense firefighting efforts. Locals joined the fire brigade teams in attempting to douse the flames.

State Fire Services Minister Sujit Basu, who rushed to the scene, appealed for calm amid the chaos. "I understand the anger of the residents, but the priority right now is to control the fire," Basu said. "I had requisitioned 15 fire tenders and instructed the police to clear the routes to avoid delays in their arrival,” he said.

In addition to the fire brigade, the state’s disaster management team was deployed to assist with rescue operations and recovery efforts from the charred remains of the slum. "We are doing everything possible to mitigate the damage," Basu added.

As a precaution, residents from an adjacent high-rise building were evacuated due to the risk posed by the spreading flames. A police officer confirmed that efforts to move people from the building were underway as a safety measure.