Fire at Kolkata slum kills two, 29 shanties gutted; 16 fire tenders rushed

Kolkata: At least two persons were charred to death and 29 shanties were gutted after a major fire broke out at a slum on the northern fringes of Kolkata at early hours on Saturday.

Sixteen fire tenders were pressed into service to control the blaze at Patipukur Railway tracks near Belgachhia.

Charred bodies of victims were recovered from the spot.

The cause of the fire, which was first noticed at around 3 am, was yet to be ascertained, the officials said.

In a second incident of fire in north Kolkata, a garment manufacturing unit was badly damaged, fire brigade officials said.

Eleven fire tenders extinguished the blaze near Minerva theatre at the 3,000 sq feet plot where garments were manufactured. Officials said there was no report of any injury or casualty in the second incident.