Fire Destroys 12 Homes in Kolkata's Ultadanga Area; Short Circuit Suspected as Cause

Kolkata's Ultadanga neighborhood is reeling under the shock of a devastating fire that devastated Haat Tapally slum area, leaving 12 homes destroyed. The fire, near a railway track in a densely populated area, spread to nearby shanties suddenly and caused panic among residents. Six fire engines from the fire department rushed to the scene, and after three hours of intense firefighting efforts, the flames were finally brought under control.

The authorities suspect a possible short circuit caused the fire, which was blamed on the flammable materials present there. The police are still investigating, but preliminary reports say the fire started in one of the homes before spreading quickly to engulf the shacks there.

भीषण आग pic.twitter.com/ggEIxZyEHL

— parmod chaudhary (@parmoddhukiya) December 5, 2024

In a related incident, a tremendous explosion and fire also struck the gas godown in Amadanga, North 24 Parganas. According to claims by the local residents, illegal gas cylinder cutting was going on at that place for the last more than a year, and the leakage has caused the explosion. The rescue services are fighting to douse the fire; however, a report has been released that some employees might be trapped inside.

Both incidents raise questions on how poor safety measures can increase risks in crowded and industrial places like Kolkata, thereby challenging enforcement and the call for sterner control over such calamities.