A fire at Kolkata’s Baghajatin market destroyed at least 35 grocery and fruit stalls early on Tuesday, damaging festive stocks worth several lakhs of rupees and leaving traders facing severe losses just days before Lakshmi Puja.
The blaze broke out around 3.30am in the 79-year-old market, located between Garia and Jadavpur. Fifteen fire engines were sent to the site, but firefighters were still working to contain a pocket of fire around 1.30pm, according to The Telegraph India.
The market includes wholesale and retail fish sections, vegetable vendors, grocery shops and fruit stalls. Traders had increased their inventories ahead of the festive season, when demand typically rises. The movement of goods is also restricted between Mahalaya and Kali Puja, prompting many sellers to store larger quantities than usual.
“Durga Puja is not yet over, and Lakshmi Puja is just days away. This is the peak season for our business. The fire has left us devastated,” grocery shop owner Abhijit Pal said.
Fruit sellers reported similar losses. Chandranath Banik said daily supplies and stocks accumulated for Lakshmi Puja had been destroyed. Several traders were still counting their losses by Tuesday afternoon, with some goods burnt and others damaged by the water used to extinguish the fire.
A fire brigade official said large portions of the market were covered with plastic sheets, which allowed the flames to spread rapidly. Oil stored in several grocery shops further fuelled the blaze. Witnesses said some tins exploded and were thrown into the air during the fire.
Motorcycles parked in an open area outside the grocery section also caught fire. A trader said many of the vehicles belonged to people visiting the wholesale fish market, which remains open through the night.
The fire’s cause has not yet been established. A fire brigade official said authorities were awaiting a forensic report to determine what triggered the blaze. Traders also remained uncertain about when business could resume as they assessed the damage to the market and its stock.
The incident has disrupted one of the area’s established commercial hubs during a period when local sellers depend heavily on festive trade. Further action will depend on the forensic findings and the authorities’ assessment of the affected market structures.
