Baghajatin Market fire in south Kolkata guts shops; no casualties, short circuit suspected

A senior fire services official said 15 fire tenders were deployed to contain the flames. The official said the fire was “totally under control” after a prolonged operation that lasted close to three hours.

Residents in the neighbourhood reported seeing thick smoke rising from the market as firefighters worked to stop the blaze from jumping to adjacent structures. The market is surrounded by residential lanes and small commercial units, which added urgency to efforts to create fire breaks and keep the flames from spreading.

Damage and disruption at market

Shopkeepers arriving later in the morning found shutters charred and interiors blackened. With many businesses shut at the time of the outbreak, the absence of casualties came as a relief, but traders feared heavy losses from destroyed stock and damaged fittings.

The market, a local hub for daily goods, was expected to see increased footfall during Durga Puja. Tuesday, Nabami, is among the busiest days of the festival in Kolkata. Many small traders keep extra inventory for the rush. The timing meant the fire hit when most shops were closed, but also when seasonal stocks are typically at their highest.

Officials did not provide an immediate estimate of losses. Fire service personnel continued to cool hotspots and check adjoining units for hidden embers, a routine step after a market fire where flames can travel through shared roofs, wooden partitions and tightly packed storage.

Police kept the area cordoned off while firefighting continued, restricting movement near the affected stretch. Commuters and residents were diverted around the market lanes as hoses and vehicles occupied narrow access points.

Short circuit suspected, inquiry ordered

Preliminary findings pointed to an electrical short circuit as a possible trigger, officials said, though they stressed that a full inquiry was under way to establish the exact cause.

Market fires in dense commercial clusters often spread fast because of close spacing between shops and the presence of combustible materials. Investigators are expected to examine wiring, meter connections and any appliances left running overnight, along with statements from shop owners and nearby residents.

The fire services and police were expected to conduct follow-up inspections once the site is safe to enter, focusing on how the blaze started in the first shop and why it spread to neighbouring units.

For now, authorities said the immediate priority was to prevent reignition and allow shopkeepers to assess damage in an orderly way. Traders and residents were asked to cooperate with restrictions at the site as officials complete safety checks and documentation.