Kolkata: A major fire broke out at a car showroom and service centre on Jessore Road near Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in the early hours of Monday, leaving around 30 vehicles gutted or badly damaged. No casualties or injuries have been reported.
The blaze reportedly started around 4.45 am in the Bankra area of Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas. The flames spread rapidly across the showroom premises, engulfing several vehicles parked inside. Local residents and people in the surrounding area alerted the fire department after noticing the intense flames.
Eight fire tenders from nearby fire stations, including Madhyamgram and Birati, were pressed into service. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly three hours before bringing it under control. Cooling operations continued after the flames were extinguished to prevent any possibility of the fire reigniting.
Reports differ slightly on the extent of the damage. While several reports said around 30 vehicles were gutted, another assessment said 22 cars were completely destroyed and eight others suffered extensive damage.
The incident caused concern in the surrounding area as the showroom is located close to the airport along the busy Jessore Road. The firefighting operation also affected traffic movement on the road for some time. However, there were no reports of any disruption to flight operations at the nearby airport.
Fire officials said the exact cause of the blaze has not yet been established and will be determined after a detailed investigation. A preliminary assessment cited by The Statesman suggested that a short circuit could have triggered the fire, but officials have not confirmed the cause.
An important concern has also emerged regarding fire-safety arrangements at the premises. According to the Madhyamgram Fire Station officer, the showroom did not have an adequate firefighting or fire-safety system inside the premises. Authorities are expected to examine the safety arrangements and determine whether required precautions were in place.
The incident comes as another major fire-related accident in the Kolkata metropolitan area and has once again raised questions about fire-safety preparedness at large commercial establishments. With a significant number of vehicles parked inside the premises, the blaze spread quickly and caused substantial property damage.
Police and fire department officials are continuing their investigation into the incident, while the extent of the financial loss is yet to be assessed.
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