A fire erupted at a government office in Alipore, south Kolkata, this Wednesday morning. Locals noticed black smoke emerging from the multi-storey South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad office around 10 a.m., prompting a call to the Fire Department. The incident led to the collapse of a section of the roof, enveloping the area in black smoke.
Firefighters swiftly responded with at least 10 fire engines to combat the blaze. While two individuals were rescued and another safely descended using a rope, there are concerns that more people might be trapped inside. The narrow space and surrounding trees posed challenges for the firefighters in setting up ladders. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties or injuries thus far.
The fire, suspected to have originated from an air conditioner short circuit on the fourth floor, rapidly spread to the fifth and sixth floors and other sections of the building. The office complex in Alipore accommodates various government offices, including that of Jahangir Khan, a detained Trinamool Congress leader from Falta in Diamond Harbour. The building’s electricity supply was promptly disconnected.
Despite government employees arriving at the scene by 10:30 a.m., they were unable to enter the premises due to the ongoing firefighting efforts. With several government buildings nearby, there were concerns about the fire spreading. Firefighters, however, are diligently working to prevent the flames from extending to adjacent structures.
