Kolkata, Oct 23 (IANS) — A massive fire broke out at a printing press in the Amherst Street area of north Kolkata on Wednesday morning. Officials confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far.
Seven fire engines were deployed to the scene as firefighters worked relentlessly to bring the blaze under control. The area was soon engulfed in thick black smoke, making firefighting operations extremely challenging in the densely populated neighborhood.
Some firefighters were seen wearing gas masks due to the heavy smoke. Although the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, officials suspect it may have been triggered by a short circuit.
“We are trying to bring the fire under control, but the dense smoke is creating difficulties for our team,” said a fire brigade officer.
Local residents first noticed smoke billowing from the printing press and immediately alerted the fire department and police. Initially, three fire engines reached the scene, but due to the congested lanes, firefighters had to carry their equipment on foot. Later, four more fire tenders joined the operation.
Authorities said the printing press contained large quantities of flammable materials, which caused the fire to spread rapidly. Several nearby shops were also damaged, though no injuries have been reported. Firefighters are continuing efforts to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
The incident comes just two days after a major fire at a dye factory in Khardah, North 24 Parganas, which also affected a nearby T-shirt manufacturing unit. Around 20 fire engines were required to extinguish that blaze.
