Major fire breaks out at Kolkata's iconic Chatterjee International

According to West Bengal fire brigade sources, the fire broke out at around 7.55 am as the blaze engulfed the 16th floors of the high-rise building located along Jawaharlal Nehru Road, a key arterial stretch of this bustling eastern metropolis.

At least 17 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. The adjoining roads were partly closed as fire fighters were trying to enter the floors using hydraulic ladder.

At least four persons trapped inside the building were rescued by the fire department. Very few people were inside the building as the fire broke out before the peak office hours. The area was also cordoned off to conduct the firefighting operations.

The 24-floor-high Chatterjee International is the fifth tallest building in Kolkata.

Sources said the fire was brought under control after four hours of struggle. West Bengal fire services minister Jawed Khan also visited the spot to look after the rescue operation. The fire brigade officials had to struggle initially to put out the fire as thick smoke remained trapped on the floors in absence of exhausts fitted in the building. Finally they broke open the glass panes to release it.

“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in now in north Bengal. She is monitoring everything from there and enquired about the whole incident. She is worried. We have assured her that all four people trapped inside the building have been evacuated. We have told her that the fire is now under control,” Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) mayor Sovan Chatterjee said.

The cause of fire or extent of damage was yet to be ascertained. “We can only ascertain the cause of the fire after we receive the enquiry report. It is also not possible to say anything about the extent of damage as the floor housed commercial offices,” said Khan. Sources, however, said as many as nine offices were damaged due to the fire.