Fire breaks out in illegal petroleum products godown in West Bengal

Siliguri (West Bengal), Sep 3(ANI): A blazing fire broke out in an unauthorised godown in Siliguri on Thursday, where thousands of illegal petroleum products were stored for long.

The fire broke out in the Niranjan Nagar area of Siliguri at around 8.30 in the morning, and within minutes spread to the two adjacent houses in the vicinity.

Seven fire engines were immediately pressed into service and it took more than three and a half hours to contain the flames.

"We can't say how the fire broke out, but it did break out in an unauthorized godown where diesel, petrol and kerosene were illegally stored in a barrel. The whole godown was engulfed in flames. We called for the fire brigades and it took seven of them to control the fire. Had they not been arrived on time then the whole village would have been engulfed in flames," said Tapan Ghosh, the divisional officer of fire brigade.

The villagers on the other hand say that they were completely unaware of this illegal business in their locality until the accident occurred.

"We had no idea about this illegal business of petroleum products in our area. We used to see that oils were being transported or carried and thought that some minor stocks were stored. But it came as a big surprise to us to see such a huge illegal storage of petroleum products. Now we are sure that there are more such unauthorized go downs in our areas," said Charan Ghosh, a local.

The villagers alleged there were many godowns in the area, which were illegally storing petroleum products. (ANI)