Two killed in Kolkata slum fire

A massive fire broke out at a slum in north Kolkata's Patipukur area on the wee hours of Saturday.

Kolkata, Dec 17: Two charred bodies were recovered in a blaze in a north Kolkata slum on Saturday, an official from the fire department said. The fire gutted at least 20 shanties in Patipukur. According to reports, the blaze was first seen at around 3 am at Subhash Colony beside Patipukur railway tracks and it spread quickly. As many as 20 fire tender engines rushed to the spot.

Later, police and fire services personnel recovered the burned bodies, who have been identified as school student Priya Adhikary and her uncle Nimai Adhikary, from a gutted shanty and rushed to a nearby hospital, where they were declared brought dead.

However, the exact reason behind the fire is not known.

"We have handed over the bodies to police. The fire could have been due to a cylinder blast. It is now under control," the official said. At least three locals were seriously injured in the incident and are being treated at R. G. Kar Hospital.

IANS