Nine killed in Kolkata leather factory fire

November 22, 2006

Nine people are confirmed dead in a fire in a leather bag factory in Kolkata's South 24 Pargana district in Topsia area.

Eighteen people were seriously injured and admitted to the National Medical College and Hospital.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said that the fire broke out at about 3 a.m. local time, when the victims were inside the factory and all the doors were closed.

Director General of Fire Brigade Gopal Bhattacharjee said that it was an illegal factory in Kolkata located at third floor of the building. At the time of fire, all the exits were shut and workers could not come out from the factory.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya suggested that a short circuit or an unattended cigarette may have caused the fire.

Five firetenders were rushed to the spot. Firefighters fought the blaze for hours and rescued the people who were residing in the building at the time of fire.