A fire destroyed more than 50 shanties along GJ Khan Road in Tiljala on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Twenty-two fire engines were able to control the fire by 6pm. The fire broke out close to Forum Atmosphere — a residential highrise on the Bypass — at 3.38pm. There were no reports of anyone being injured in the fire.

People in the locality said the fire started spreading from one shanty to another and went out of control.

“More than 50 families have been left homeless. Luckily, no one was trapped or injured,” an officer of Tiljala police station said.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited the area in the evening and instructed the Calcutta Municipal Corporation to provide the families with relief material at the earliest.

“The actual cause of the fire can be ascertained only after forensic tests. The cooling process is still on,” a fire officer said.

A forensic team can visit only after the fire has been completely doused and cooled down, the officer said.