Some 113 shops at the local Kaparpatty market in Dhupguri town of Jalpaiguri district were gutted in a devastating fire in the small hours of Friday.

Five fire tenders took over seven hours to arrest the blaze that officials of the fire services department suspect was caused by a short-circuit.

Sources said some residents spotted the flames past midnight in the market located on the town’s Thana Road. Soon, racing flames engulfed one shop after another.

No one was injured in the blaze because of the timing, but losses are estimated to be close to Rs 100 crores.

Two state ministers, Rabbindranath Ghosh and Gautam Deb, visited the site of the blaze and spoke to affected traders.

“Preliminary reports suggest that 113 shops in total have been gutted in the fire. There were garment shops, shops selling stationery and grocery items and even some jewellery shops. The total loss appears to be close to 100 crores,” said north Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh, who rushed to the spot soon after the incident.

The fire services department and police have started separate investigations to ascertain the cause of the blaze.

Initially, two fire engines from the local fire station and one from Maynaguri reached the spot of the blaze. While two engines tried to douse the flames, the third engine made arrangements to draw water from Kumlai river that skirts the town. Later, two more engines reached the spot from Baxirhat of Cooch Behar and Falakata of Alipurduar.

After seven gruelling hours, the blaze came under control and eventually was completely doused, with charred remains of the shops strewn all around.

The owners of the charred shops met minister Ghosh and expressed their distress.

Acting quickly, Ghosh called up state municipal affairs and urban development minister Firhad Hakim for a solution.

“The municipal affairs and urban development department will build the shops which have been gutted in the fire. Those would be handed over to the affected shop owners. We will talk with local banks so that shop owners can avail of long-term loans at lower interest rates,” the NB development minister said.

Some residents requested Ghosh to see to it that infrastructure was better developed at the local fire station. Ghosh promised to look into it.

Later, state tourism minister Gautam Deb visited the spot and spoke to shop owners who requested him to ensure that a water reservoir was built in the market and the land upon which shops were located was given to them on lease. “The minister told us to give him our demands in writing and assured us that he would talk to agencies concerned,” said a trader.