A fire broke out in a congested slum off Prince Anwar Shah Road allegedly after the battery of an electric scooter exploded. The fire led to multiple LPG cylinder explosions.

At least one person was injured.

Fire department officials said a short circuit from the charging point of the electric scooter may have started the fire. The fire grew manifold in proportion after an LPG cylinder exploded.

According to neighbours, at least four blasts were heard making them suspect that at least four cylinders had exploded.

The exact cause of the fire will be ascertained after a forensic examination.

Rana Naskar, 27, was recharging his electric scooter when his two-wheeler’s battery exploded, the police said.

Naskar suffered severe burns and had to be admitted to MR Bangur Hospital.

At least five families have been rendered homeless by the blaze. Three other shanties were partially damaged.

“We heard screams for help. When I rushed to the spot I saw he (Naskar) was writhing in pain on the floor. He was badly scathed and has been admitted to hospital,” said Subhojit Naiya, a resident of the slum whose house was
gutted.

“There is nothing left in my house. The television, the bridge, our furniture — everything is gone,” said Naiya.

Police said the fire was reported around 5am when a hutment caught fire. Within minutes the fire spread across four shanties.

A total of eight shanties were affected, including five which were gutted, police said.

Five fire tenders were pressed into action to douse the fire.

“An electric scooter was plugged in for charging. There is a possibility that the fire started from a short circuit. Then the fire was aggravated after an LPG cylinder exploded,” said a fire and emergency services department official.

A forensic team will visit the spot after the cooling process is over to ascertain the seat of the fire and its reason.

The area where the fire broke out was congested and was stacked with wooden and other household materials.

Residents said it took a few minutes for the flames to spread. People rushed out of their homes but had to leave behind their household items.

Many in the neighbourhood alleged that they called the Golf Green police station but they said that the fire took place inside the jurisdiction of Charu Market police station.

“We first called Golf Green police station and then had to call Charu Market police station,” a neighbour complained.

The area where the fire was reported falls under Lake police station.

A few days ago, a fire inside ESI Hospital in Sealdah allegedly led to the death of a terminally ill cancer patient.