At least 13 shops were completely gutted and a few others partially damaged in a blaze that broke out at the market in Panitanki on the India-Nepal border early on Saturday.

Panitanki is located around 30km from here. The fire erupted around 5.30am.

Fire tenders from different locations in Siliguri subdivision and even one from Nepal reached the spot and controlled the fire after three hours.

Arun Ghosh, the sabhadhipati of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, said: “We visited the spot. As the model code of conduct is in force, it is not immediately possible to release funds to compensate the affected shop owners. The Kharibari BDO is assessing the loss so that relief can be given to traders according to guidelines.”

The gutted shops are grocery outlets, garment shops, eateries and a motor repair garage.

Officials and personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) that guards the Nepal border also reached the spot and began firefighting and rescue measures.

SSB sources said as the blaze was reported near the Raniganj immigration office building in Panitanki, officers and personnel from the Panitanki and Gaursinghbusty border outposts rushed there.

Fire tenders from Naxalbari, Siliguri, and Matigara reached the spot. The SSB spoke with officials of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal and arranged a fire engine from Mechinagar, Nepal.

During firefighting, the SSB and the APF, Nepal, restricted the movement of people from Nepal to India on the old Mechi river bridge of Panitanki checkpost for the smooth movement of fire engines and for the SSB to be deployed to help.

“The fire started from an electrical short circuit in the wires hanging over the shops. It spread quickly because of inflammable materials like motor oil and LPG cylinders. Eventually, it was doused at 8.30am,” said a source in SSB.

During that time, the SSB cordoned off the burning shops, managed traffic and prevented crowding.

They helped firefighters contain the fire and recovered and saved properties from burning shops.

Later in the day, Gopal Lama, the Trinamul candidate of the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, visited the spot with Papiya Ghosh, the Darjeeling (plains) district Trinamul president. He spoke to the affected traders.

Mayor smoke meeting

Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb held a meeting with officials of the state fire services department on Saturday and discussed measures to prevent forest fire near the city.

Recently, such fires led to smoke engulfing Siliguri in the evenings and nights.

“The sudden downpour over the past couple of days has doused the fires in the forest and the dumping ground,” said Deb. He said he had spoken with state minister Sujit Bose to provide small fire engines to enter congested areas. "The minister said two such engines would be here soon. His officials assured us of prompt action to combat fires in nearby forests,” Deb added.