Picture : Twitter / ANI
At least nine people were killed in an inferno in a multi-storeyed New Koilaghat building on Strand Road which houses the zonal offices of Eastern and South Eastern Railways Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
Banerjee further told ANI, The property belongs to railways, it’s their responsibility but they were unable to provide map of building. I don’t want to do politics over the tragedy but no one from railways has come here.
Out of them, four were firefighters, one assistant sub-inspector posted at the Hare Street police station and one Railway Protection Force personnel, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Basu said.
The seventh victim is yet to be identified, he said. The fire is now under control and the cooling process is on, he said.
Banerjee, who rushed to the spot in the city’s central business district, announced the state government will pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those killed in the blaze and government job to a kin of each victim.
The fire broke out in the 13th floor of the sprawling building around 6.10 pm. It also has a computerised ticket booking centre on its ground floor.
On hearing the tragedy, prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted their condolences .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted , Saddened by the loss of lives due to the fire tragedy in Kolkata. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.
Saddened by the loss of lives due to the fire tragedy in Kolkata. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 9, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted , Anguished to learn about the loss of lives due to a fire accident in Kolkata. My deepest condolences and thoughts are with the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.
Anguished to learn about the loss of lives due to a fire accident in Kolkata. My deepest condolences and thoughts are with the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 9, 2021
