WB govt directs police, fire dept to ascertain cause of Bagree market fire

The West Bengal government on Monday directed the police and fire department to find out the cause of the blaze that almost gutted Bagree market in the state capital and summons the owners of the commercial building, a senior minister said.

A group of ministers, under the chairmanship of state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, held a meeting at the state secretariat on Monday to discuss the incident of fire that engulfed the famous Bagree Market in the central part of the city early Sunday.

"We have got a preliminary report from the police and fire department. They have been directed to find out the cause of the fire in consultation with the forensic department and come out with a report," a senior minister, who was present at the meeting, told PTI.

He said the police were asked to summon the owners after ascertaining the cause of the fire and talk to them.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials were directed to clear unauthorized holdings inside the Bagree market and take strict action in this regard, the minister said, adding preliminary report by police mentioned that even bathrooms in the market building were rented out to small traders.

According to a secretariat source, the group of ministers are likely to meet again on Wednesday to decide on the next course of action in the Bagree market fire incident.

A copy of Monday's meeting would be forwarded to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is currently on an official tour to Europe, he said.

A senior Kolkata Police officer said a team of officials from the force's forensic department visited the Bagree market and collected samples from the site to ascertain the cause of the fire.

The fire which engulfed the Bagree market is still raging on even as fire personnel was tirelessly making efforts to douse it.

No loss of life has been reported but six persons, including two firefighters, fell sick inhaling the toxic smoke, police said, adding they were treated at the Calcutta Medical College Hospital and later discharged.