Kolkata: Fire breaks out at printing press in Salt Lake | Video

Kolkata:

A massive fire broke out at a printing press in Sector 5 of Salt Lake on Friday (May 2) at around 3:00 pm. The fire quickly spread throughout the entire premises of the printing press, and shortly after the blaze began, an explosion was heard from outside the printing press. However, the exact cause of the explosion is still unclear. Upon receiving the information, several fire engines rushed to the spot. Initially, firefighters attempted to control the blaze by spraying water from outside. According to sources from the fire department, the fire was so intense that entering the factory was not possible. Fire personnel will enter the building only after the fire is brought under control.

As soon as the news broke, Fire Minister Sujit Bose and Bidhannagar Police arrived at the spot. According to the fire department, large quantities of flammable materials were stored in the factory. Firefighters believe that the presence of these flammable substances could have caused the fire to spread rapidly. 

According to the Fire Minister, "Firefighters are trying to control the blaze." The next steps will be taken after assessing the situation. As per fire officials, no injuries have been reported so far. Towering flames and thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from several kilometres away, triggering panic in the tech and commercial hub located on the eastern outskirts of the city.

"We have deployed 12 fire tenders. The fire is intense, but we are trying to bring it under control. The exact nature of the establishment whether it's a factory or a godown is being verified," officials said to media.

"As far as our knowledge, no one is trapped inside," he told media.

The fire, which was first reported around 2.30 pm, soon engulfed a large portion of the premises. Firefighters faced difficulty in approaching the source of the blaze due to the presence of what are believed to be highly flammable chemicals. While there have been no reports of casualties so far, nearby buildings have been evacuated as a precaution. Police and disaster management personnel have also reached the spot. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

The blaze comes just days after a devastating hotel fire in the city claimed 14 lives, raising serious questions about fire safety compliance in commercial establishments.

(With inputs from Onkar Sarkar)