Kolkata: Fire breaks out at fourth-floor Mangla Haat warehouse, 17 hurt in scramble for safety
Times of India | 26 May 2025
1234 Howrah: At least 17 people sustained injuries as they scrambled for safety and rushed downstairs, leading to a stampede-like situation, after fire broke out on the fourth floor of the modern market building at Howrah's Mangla Haat on Sunday.The injured received initial treatment at Howrah District Hospital.The fire started in a warehouse and eight fire tenders were pressed into action to douse the fire. According to locals, this was the fifth notable fire incident in Mangla Haat in the last 15 years and the second fire incident in the modern Mangla Haat building within the last few years. On July 20, 2023, a devastating fire had ravaged Mangla Haat, destroying nearly 3,000 shops.Sunday's fire broke out in the building that houses 2,600 traders. About 700 to 800 vendors were also purchasing clothes when the fire broke out.The firefighters faced difficulties extinguishing the fire due to lack of water, besides congestion challenges. According to fire department sources, the water line provided by the municipality to the building was disconnected, and there were also no fire extinguishing systems in place.The water reservoir on the fourth floor was completely empty The entire building was evacuated. "Flammable clothes were stored on the narrow stairs. Electrical wires were hanging at various places. There was no surveillance from Howrah Municipal Corporation, fire, or police," said Ambooj Sharma, president of the Mangla Haat Consumers Welfare Association. Cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. MLA Arup Roy has asked police to probe the incident.