Major fire in Ultadanga, hundreds of huts gutted

Kolkata, Jan 3 (UNI) A devastating fire gutted hundreds of shanties at a slum at Muraripukur road adjacent to the Ultadanga railway station early today.

Fire department sources said there was no injury to anyone.

However, a transformer each of the Calcutta Electric Supply and the railways were damaged.

They said the fire broke out at 0330 hours when the people were asleep. Panic-stricken residents rushed out of their huts when they saw the deadly flames.

The fire spread fast due to the presence of combustible materials like kerosene and LPG cylinders.

The slum covered an area of 40,000 square feet. Eighteen fire engines fought for about four hours to control the blaze.

The exact amount of loss was yet to be determined, the sources said.

UNI