A fire at Baghajatin Market in south Kolkata damaged around 15 shops early on Tuesday, with 15 fire engines taking nearly three hours to bring the blaze under control. No casualties have been reported so far, while traffic on Raja SC Mallick Road was disrupted during the emergency response.
According to fire service sources cited by Anandabazar, the blaze began in one shop inside the market and quickly spread to several adjoining shops. Fire engines were sent to the site after the incident was reported in the early hours, and their number was increased as the intensity of the fire grew.
Police from Netaji Nagar police station also reached the market. Firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading to other parts of the market, which is connected to the road linking Garia and Jadavpur. Police personnel remained at the location to manage the situation and traffic movement.
Fire service personnel initially suspected that the fire began in a shop that made batasha, a traditional sugar confectionery. The fire is believed to have started at around 4 am, although the exact cause has not yet been established. The preliminary assessment remains subject to further investigation.
The fire was brought under control after approximately three hours. Authorities said the full extent of the damage would become clear only after the cooling and assessment process was completed. The report did not specify the names of the affected businesses or the estimated value of the losses.
Several traders reached Baghajatin Market after receiving news of the fire. The incident occurred during the festive period, and affected business owners were seen distressed after losing stock and shop premises, according to the report. Jadavpur BJP MLA Sarbari Mukherjee also visited the site.
The blaze also affected traffic on Raja SC Mallick Road, an important connection between Garia and Jadavpur. Police were deployed at the scene to manage the disruption. No deaths or injuries had been reported at the time of publication, while the cause of the fire and the final damage assessment remained pending.
