Two individuals, including building owner Zafar Nishad, have been apprehended by the police within 24 hours following the tragic Tiljala fire in Kolkata, resulting in two fatalities. The arrests took place at Palm Avenue in South Kolkata as confirmed by the authorities. A high-level investigation committee was promptly established by the state government under the directive of Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari to probe the incident thoroughly.
The committee is actively examining the fire site and is slated to furnish a detailed report by the end of the day. Additionally, the Kolkata Police has been instructed by the state government to promptly file a specific FIR regarding the matter. The arrests were carried out based on this FIR. The fire, which occurred in a multi-storey building on GJ Khan Road in East Kolkata’s Tiljala area, resulted in the unfortunate demise of two individuals and left five others injured, currently receiving critical medical attention.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire originated on the second floor of a four-storey building at 50/1 GJ Khan Road, rapidly engulfing the vicinity in dense black smoke. Upon noticing the blaze, locals promptly alerted the fire department, leading to the dispatch of four fire engines to the scene. The fire’s intensity escalated, trapping seven individuals in a room on the floor, with reports suggesting their attempt to seek refuge in the washroom to evade the flames.
The trapped individuals faced a harrowing situation until fire officials successfully rescued them, transferring them to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. Tragically, two individuals were declared deceased by doctors due to severe respiratory distress. The condition of the remaining five injured individuals remains critical. While investigations are ongoing to ascertain the fire’s cause, initial assessments from the fire department point towards a potential short circuit as the likely trigger.
