Over a hundred shanties in Chetla's Nandigram slum were ravaged by a fire that broke out early on Thursday and left many homeless.
Police said the fire started in one of the homes around 1.50am and soon spread.
Six fire tenders took over six hours to bring the flames under control. No one was injured as some residents alerted neighbours and all of them had moved out of their homes, police said.
"The fire broke out in a shanty on the eastern side of Durgapur bridge, near Chetla lockgate. Forensic experts have collected samples to identify the cause. The fire was brought under control around 7.45am," said an officer.
Mayor Firhad Hakim, a resident of the area, reached the spot early in the morning.
"We will build tin sheds for those who have been rendered homeless in the fire," Hakim later told reporters. "The land belongs to Kolkata Port Trust and chances of sabotage can't be ruled out."
The fire was so intense that several LPG cylinders burst and tin sheds were blown away.
Ashima Choudhury, a second-year student at Jogamaya Devi College, said she couldn't save any of their belongings. It was the same for many residents.
"My books and documents are all gone. I'm not sure how I will write my exams," Choudhury told reporters.
Swapna Gurung, a student of Chetla Girls School, had similar concerns. "The state administration should help us," said the Class XI student.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials went to the area and asked residents to give a list of their names to the civic body.