WB: Fire engulfs East Topsia, one injured

Kolkata, Jun 1: A devastating fire engulfed the densly populated bustee areas in Topsia near Parama Island on the Eastern fringes of the city early today.

One person was reportedly injured in the firs that spread like wildfire, however, no casualty was reported, sources said.

At least 25 fire engines were trying to contrel the fire control for the last 90 minutes, but with little success.

''The exact cause of the fire has not been ascertained as yet, but we are suspecting the fire must have spread from a coke oven or from burning of dry twigs and wood for cooking,'' West Bengal Fire Minister Pratim Chatterjee said.

He added that these areas had abundance of combustible substances and this caused the fire to spread rapidly.

''If the slums have to stay, they have to form some safety norms.

They bring diesel and other inflamable substance for making buckets and other plastic goods in their houses. These small factories are not licensed and need to be regulated by the corporation,'' he added.

Most of the locals have been shifted to safer places.

Asked if any special committee will be set up to trace the reasons for cases of repeated fires in these areas, he said '' We have used forensic teams earlier and the cause of the fire could not be ascertained. However, with adequate safety measures such blazes can be averted.''

UNI