Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
In yet another devastating fire, slums near BP Poddar Hospital in New Alipore were engulfed in flames on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction.
The blaze, which broke out near Durgapur Bridge, has halted vehicular movement on the bridge and disrupted train services on the Sealdah-Budge Budge line.
Firefighters, aided by army personnel, are battling to contain the inferno amid strong northwesterly winds that have complicated their efforts.
Water is being sprayed from the bridge, but the fire, which started in the evening, remains uncontrolled as of 8 PM. Thick black smoke has blanketed the area, leaving dozens of families homeless in the biting winter cold.
Calcutta Mayor Firhad Hakim, senior leaders Arup Biswas, and Debasish Kumar have reached the site to oversee rescue operations. “Something feels off. Fires like this shouldn’t happen repeatedly in slums,” Hakim said.
“These are unauthorized slums on railway land, and we don’t even know how many people lived there. Thankfully, no one was inside when the fire started,” Calcutta Mayor added.
The tragedy comes a day after a massive fire in Topsia destroyed over 200 slums, leaving hundreds destitute. Survivors of that disaster are still reeling from their losses.
Temporary shelters for women and children have been set up in nearby schools and clubhouses. The frequent fires in Kolkata’s slums have raised questions about safety and accountability, with locals demanding answers.
