Flames Follow Footsteps: Fire Erupts in Park Street Complex After CM’s City Tour

Spread the love

In a dramatic turn of events that has left Kolkata on edge, a significant fire broke out in a commercial complex at Mechhua, near Park Street, just a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee conducted a high-profile tour of the city’s central business district. The blaze, which raged through the upper floors of the Park Centre building, has once again brought attention to longstanding lapses in urban safety, especially in Kolkata’s most frequented commercial zones.

Chronology of the Fire Incident

The fire erupted at approximately 3:20 PM on Thursday in Park Centre, a five-storey structure housing a variety of commercial offices, retail shops, and food joints. According to initial reports, thick smoke was seen rising from the rooftop area by nearby pedestrians and shopkeepers. Within minutes, the flames spread across the upper two floors, prompting an emergency response.

Kolkata Fire and Emergency Services deployed ten fire engines and over 50 personnel to the scene. The response team managed to contain the blaze in just over four hours, but the damage was significant. Several small businesses lost crucial equipment, stock, and infrastructure. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, though 11 individuals required medical attention due to smoke exposure.

Probable Cause and Safety Violations

Fire officials believe the fire originated in a closed rooftop restaurant undergoing unauthorized renovation. Early indicators suggest a short circuit may have triggered the blaze, exacerbated by the presence of flammable materials like plywood, insulation foam, and gas cylinders.

“We found temporary wiring, no smoke detectors, and fire exits blocked by construction debris,” said a senior fire officer. “This building was a tinderbox waiting for a spark.”

The building’s fire safety certificate had lapsed over a year ago, and the new owners—who took control just two months earlier—had not initiated the renewal process. Neither had they notified authorities of ongoing renovations, violating both fire safety and municipal construction norms.

The Political Angle: CM’s Tour and Public Sentiment

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s tour of central Kolkata just the day before included visits to civic infrastructure projects, traffic points, and areas near Park Street. The juxtaposition of a massive fire following such a publicized inspection has raised uncomfortable questions about the scope and depth of these reviews.

Opposition parties were quick to criticize the government. “The Chief Minister’s visit clearly did not extend to examining actual safety conditions. It was a photo op, not a real audit,” said BJP’s Dilip Ghosh.

Social media echoed similar sentiments, with hashtags like #KolkataOnFire and #InspectionFail trending regionally within hours.

Local Reactions: Tenants Speak Out

The tenants and shop owners in the building have been left disillusioned. Many allege they were unaware of the renovation work taking place above their floors. “I run a coaching centre on the third floor. Nobody told us there was construction happening on the roof. We found out when we were running for our lives,” said educator Anindita Dey.

Others say they had flagged electrical issues to the building’s management in the weeks leading up to the incident. “There were sparks from the switchboards, frequent power cuts, and flickering lights. We were told it would be fixed ‘soon,’” said Manoj Singh, who operates a packaging business from the second floor.

Wider Pattern of Fires in Commercial Spaces

The Mechhua fire is far from an isolated incident. In the past five years, Kolkata has witnessed multiple fires in commercial hubs—each time prompting outrage, inquiries, and promises of reform. Yet few of these have led to systemic change.

According to a 2024 report by the State Fire and Emergency Services, more than 50% of commercial buildings in Kolkata operate without up-to-date fire clearances. Many older structures, originally designed for low occupancy, are now overcrowded and poorly maintained.

“This is not just negligence; it’s a governance failure,” said urban planner Ritwik Bandyopadhyay. “When fires keep breaking out in the same kinds of locations for the same reasons, we’re looking at institutional apathy.”

The Cost of Complacency

Beyond the financial losses—estimated to exceed ₹4 crore in this case—the psychological toll on workers and business owners is immense. With critical files, servers, and goods lost, many small enterprises now face weeks of recovery.

“I don’t know how we’ll recover. We didn’t just lose stock—we lost customer trust,” said boutique owner Rina Ghosh, whose store was partially destroyed.

Residents of the adjacent residential block also expressed concern, fearing that the fire could have easily spread further. “We had to evacuate with our children and elderly parents. Our building is connected by a shared wall. The lack of preparedness was shocking,” said resident Soumitra Paul.

Civic and Government Response

In the aftermath, Mayor Firhad Hakim announced an emergency review of all commercial buildings in and around Park Street and Mechhua. “Every building will be inspected. Unauthorized renovations and expired safety licenses will not be tolerated,” he said.

The fire department has also recommended fast-tracking the digitization of safety compliance records and establishing a public portal to check the fire safety status of commercial buildings.

Meanwhile, the KMC has issued a notice to the Park Centre building management and has promised to file a case under multiple provisions of the Fire Services Act and Municipal Act.

Experts Call for Urgent Reform

Fire safety and urban development experts are unanimous in calling for change. Key suggestions include:

Real-time reporting of renovation activity via a centralized municipal dashboard
Quarterly fire drills mandated for commercial buildings
On-the-spot fines for fire safety non-compliance
Public access to a citywide fire certificate database

“If this city wants to grow commercially, it must prioritize safety. There’s no development without accountability,” said disaster preparedness consultant Suman Lahiri.

A City at a Crossroads

The Park Street fire has come as a stark reminder that safety cannot be sacrificed for commercial speed or bureaucratic delay. The question now is whether this incident will be treated as a turning point—or simply added to a long list of avoidable disasters.

For the citizens of Kolkata, and especially the thousands who work in its bustling commercial corridors each day, the hope is that lessons are finally learned, not just documented.

Journalist Details

Jitendra Kumar

Jitendra Kumar is an Indian journalist and social activist from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh is known as the senior journalist and founder of Xpert Times Network Private Limited.