Estate gutted

TT, Siliguri, Dec. 9: A thermocol processing unit in Dabgram industrial estate, on the outskirts of Siliguri, was gutted in a fire today after a suspected short circuit.

Four fire engines had to be sent from the Siliguri fire station to control the blaze that spread to 145 manufacturing units located in the industrial estate. There were no reports of casualties.

According to Ashok Poddar, the station officer at the Siliguri fire station, fire tenders reached the spot around 1.30pm after receiving information of the blaze.

"We rushed to the spot immediately after getting information of the fire and were able to douse the flames in 45 minutes. The cause of fire can only be ascertained after investigation. However, the thermocol unit has necessary fire-fighting arrangements that includes a reservoir with a capacity to hold 3,000 liters of water that we used to douse the flames," Poddar said.