Massive Fire Ravages Kalimpong's 11th Mile Area, Displaces Families

KalimNews, December 28, 2024, Kalimpong: A devastating fire broke out at Kalimpong's 11th Mile area, near the Topkhana Shakya Monastery gate, on Saturday afternoon, causing widespread destruction and leaving several families homeless. The blaze, which started around 12:30 PM in a roadside scrap godown, quickly spread to adjacent structures, engulfing six shops and a residential house. The fire's rapid spread and the lack of adequate firefighting infrastructure in the region exacerbated the situation.

Initial reports indicate that the fire originated in a shop dealing with scrap materials. Although the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, eyewitnesses were unable to confirm how it began. The flames rapidly consumed the buildings, causing severe damage. Six families, who lived in the rear sections of the shops, lost their homes as the entire row of structures was destroyed. The affected building was an old, large house made of stone, wood, and tin, which housed multiple families in different sections under one roof. Thankfully, no casualties or injuries were reported.

Fire tenders from the Kalimpong Fire Brigade, assisted by the Sikkim Fire Brigade and army personnel, worked tirelessly for over four hours to bring the fire under control. Kalimpong Fire Brigade officials reported that heavy traffic delays had hindered their response time, allowing the fire to spread rapidly before they could arrive. However, the combined efforts of the fire brigade, army, and local residents eventually helped contain the blaze.

Photo Courtesy : Prafulla Rao (STH)

In the absence of adequate fire hydrants in the area, firefighting efforts were further complicated. The municipality was forced to disrupt a local water supply line to divert water to the fire site. Kalimpong currently has only one operational fire hydrant, located at the opposite end of the town. As a result, fire tenders had to rely on other sources, including the assistance of army fire engines, to combat the fire. The local people, including the monks of the monastery, also assisted in refilling the fire brigade tanks by forming human chains.

The Kalimpong civic body has promised to restore functionality to additional fire hydrants, with plans to reactivate three others in the near future.

District Magistrate T. Balasubramanian assured the public that all arrangements for temporary shelter, food, and basic necessities were being made for the displaced families. Local authorities are working closely to assess the full extent of the damage and provide relief to the affected residents. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

This incident has drawn attention to the inadequate firefighting infrastructure in Kalimpong, a town that has struggled with fire safety issues for years. Many fire hydrants, which were once part of the town’s network, were destroyed during the 1986 Gorkhaland agitation and have yet to be replaced. While officials have acknowledged these shortcomings, it remains to be seen how quickly they will act to improve the situation and prevent future disasters.