Fire devours Siliguri shops

TT, Siliguri: Four shops were gutted and three others partially damaged in a blaze at Tulapatty in Bidhan Market here on Sunday morning.

Four fire tenders from Siliguri fire station controlled the blaze in three hours. Bidhan Market is the largest trade hub in Siliguri.

Local people said the blaze had broken out around 6am. The shops at the market were laden with winter wears, quilts, mattresses, pillows and hoards of other items. Traders suspect that the fire started because of an electrical short circuit.

"The flame was first spotted at a shop. As most of the shops are made of wood with tin roofs, the flames spread quick- ly. Since the mishap occurred early in the morning and there was less traffic on Bidhan Road then, fire tenders reached the spot quickly," one of the traders said.

Bapi Saha, the secretary of the Bidhan Market Byabsayee Samiti, said: "Four shops have been completely gutted in the fire and another three shops partially affected. The fire fighters managed to reduce the damage by taking quick measures. It seems an electrical short circuit has caused the fire." A fire officer, said: "We could control the fire in around three hours. There was hardly any fire extinguishing equipment at the shops. The cause of fire can be ascertained only after necessary investigation.".