A major fire that broke out in the Barobisha Market under the Kumargram police station in the district gutted at least 12 shops early this morning. While there were no casualties, the shops included four garments shops, two stationary shops and a tailoring shop, it is learnt.
Two fire engines from the Barobisha fire station reached the spot immediately after local people saw the fire in the market. Firefighters battled the blazed until they completely put the flames out after one hour, it is learnt.
Preliminary investigations have suggested that the fire broke out due to an electric short- circuit in a shop that dealt in plastic carry bags. Fire department officials said they have started inquiry into the matter. “We took control of the fire after one hour of operations.
We would have done that in lesser time had there been water sources around the area. We came to know that the fire broke out from a shop that dealt in plastic carry bags. We have started an inquiry into the incident” said the OC of the Barobisha Fire Station, Prasanta Roy.
The Barobisha Businessmen’s Organisation claimed that the total loss the shops incurred in the fire exceeded Rs 50 lakh. “The total loss exceeded Rs 50 lakh. We want compensation for the businessmen who lost everything in the fire,” said the secretary of the Barobisha Businessmen’s organization, Kartik Saha. “A total of 53 shops have been gutted in fire incidents in the last one year in the Barobisha Market,” he added.
Meanwhile, another fire broke out in a village near the Dalgaon railway station under the Birpara police station in the district early this morning. Two fire engines each from the Falakata fire station and the Dhupguri fire station reached the spot and doused the flames, it is learnt.
The fire broke out from an illegal diesel storage unit in the area, police sources said. “We have received a complaint over such illegal storage of diesel in the area from local sources. We are investigating the matter,” said the Additional SP of Jaigaon, Ganesh Biswas.