A devastating fire tore through Birati’s Jadu Babu market in North 24-Parganas, West Bengal, early on Tuesday, reducing around 200 shops to ashes. The inferno, which erupted at approximately 1:30 am, spread rapidly due to strong northerly winds, leaving hundreds of traders facing significant losses. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
The market, located adjacent to Birati railway station, is a key commercial hub serving both local residents and daily commuters. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire engulfed several rows of shops within minutes, consuming merchandise and assets before firefighters could contain the flames. Seven fire tenders were dispatched, but the narrow lanes and congested layout of the marketplace significantly hampered operations.
Even after the main blaze was subdued by Tuesday morning, thick smoke continued to rise from charred remains, with sporadic pockets of fire still flickering in parts of the market. The precise cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities have launched an official investigation. Traders suspect that the fire may have originated in a single shop before rapidly spreading through the tightly packed structures.
Local residents expressed relief that the flames did not extend to nearby residential complexes, preventing a larger catastrophe. One trader recounted receiving an urgent call in the middle of the night and rushing to find his shop destroyed along with hundreds of others, describing the scene as “everything was finished.”
North Dum Dum Municipality chairman Bidhan Biswas visited the site to assess the damage and assured traders of support and rehabilitation. “We are with them in this hour of crisis. This market falls under the municipality, and we will ensure assistance and a thorough investigation,” he said.
As dawn broke, the once-thriving market stood blackened and silent — a stark reminder of the vulnerability of densely packed commercial areas to fire. The affected traders face a long road to recovery, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced fire safety measures in marketplaces across the region.
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