A devastating fire at a cloth warehouse on the fourth floor of a residential building in north Kolkata’s Pathuriaghata Street late on Sunday claimed the lives of two persons.
Fire brigade personnel and police promptly evacuated residents from the building.
However, two individuals were found unconscious on the rooftop early Monday morning and were rushed to Calcutta Medical College, where doctors declared them dead.
Preliminary reports suggest the victims may have died due to smoke inhalation.
According to fire brigade sources, the fire originated on the fourth floor, where the warehouse was located. As the fire spread, panic-stricken residents attempted to escape to the rooftop.
“Unfortunately, they got trapped as the rooftop door was closed. While fire personnel successfully rescued most of those stranded, the two victims could not be reached until Monday morning,” a police officer said.
Ten fire tenders were pressed into service, and the fire was brought under control by midnight. Firefighters encountered severe difficulties reaching the site due to the narrow lanes in the area, which delayed the initial response.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The fire brigade has launched an investigation, assisted by forensic experts.
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