West Bengal plans 25 new fire stations after series of incidents in Kolkata
State Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose addressed the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, defending his department's response to a blaze on Monday at a market in Kolkata's Khidderpore which reportedly destroyed around 1,300 shops.
Minister Bose, while rejecting allegations of delayed response and negligence, stated that the new fire stations would be established in districts such as Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Birbhum, and Purba Bardhaman. Notably, one of the proposed stations will be strategically located near Nabanna, the state secretariat in Howrah.
Other specific locations mentioned include Dhaniyakhali in Hooghly, Barjora in Bankura, Narayangarh in Paschim Medinipur, and Itahat in Uttar Dinajpur.
During the Assembly session, the Opposition criticised the fire department's handling of the Khidderpore incident, alleging the late arrival of fire tenders, insufficient water, and a breakdown of one of the engines. In response, Minister Bose stated that three fire tenders were immediately dispatched upon receiving the emergency call at 2:05 pm, with more engines sent subsequently. He affirmed the presence of senior officials, Mayor Firhad Hakim, and even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the site.
Addressing concerns about water supply and fuel, Bose firmly said 'there was sufficient water, and the pumps had fuel.' He attributed any initial pump malfunction to silt entering the system during the suction process, vowing to 'investigate' the issue. 'Just like our soldiers at the border, our firemen work under extreme risk, putting their lives on the line. Do not belittle their courage and sacrifice,' he urged.
The planned expansion of fire infrastructure comes in the wake of numerous major fire incidents in the past six months, which have resulted in fatalities and injuries. These incidents include a significant fire at an abandoned factory in Rajabazar last October, requiring six fire tenders. Days later, 15 tenders were deployed to extinguish a blaze at Tiretti Bazar on Ezra Street. A slum fire on Prince Anwar Shah Road also injured one person
This year alone, major fires have been reported in areas such as Park Circus, Sealdah ESI Hospital, Narkeldanga, Park Street, and Pathuriaghata. Incidents in the Narkeldanga slum and Pathuriaghata in Jorabagan claimed three lives.
Residents allege that while fire safety norms are adhered to for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and licenses, 'compliance often lapses' once permissions are secured.
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
3,000 cops to be deployed for TVK's second conference near Koodakovil
MADURAI: With the 2026 Assembly election nearing, arrangements for the much-anticipated second state conference of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday are in the final stages in Madurai district. The police said around 3,000 police personnel would be deployed under the supervision of the IGP of the South Zone, Prem Anand Sinha, for security arrangements on the day. Separate traffic diversion routes have been created for people coming from the northern, central, western and southern parts of the state. In order to avoid any accidental deaths on the roads after the conference, police will be more cautious to regulate traffic, a police officer said. A party district functionary further said that the conference is scheduled to be held between 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm and will be held in a 500-acre area, which includes parking space, near Koodakovil. At least 1.25 lakh party functionaries and thousands of others are expected to take part. Starting from medical assistance and water facilities, other basic amenities have been arranged. 'This is likely to be the final conference before next year's Assembly election, so, like others, I am also eager for the address of party chief Vijay,' the functionary said. Talking to TNIE on Sunday, the party's propaganda and policy general secretary, former IRS officer Arunraj said that while the first state conference answered questions about the measures the actor-turned-politician Vijay wanted to do for the state and his political ideology, the second state conference, in contrast, will address why the party needs to come to power in 2026, he said, noting that the party is growing. Although the initial date for the second conference was planned for August 25, the police requested for a change, citing Vinayagar Chaturthi, and the event was later rescheduled to August 21.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
KTR sees dismal future for Cong's ‘Future City'
Hyderabad: BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Sunday said that the 'so-called Future City' repeatedly mentioned by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had no future, asserting that Reddy's ambition to turn the Hyderabad Pharma City lands into a real estate business for his family and friends will not be fulfilled. Rama Rao strongly condemned the Congress government's approach to the Telangana Pharma City lands, accusing Revanth Reddy of being a leader without vision and his decisions leading to the wastage of public money. He expressed his anguish that the farmers who gave their lands for the Pharma City project have been cheated. He criticized the government for scrapping the ambitious Pharma City project, initiated by the KCR government, and replacing it with an unreal and imaginary 'Future City'. He described the Future City promotion as an example of what happens when a state is run by a careless leader. KTR reiterated that according to the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, land acquired for a specific public purpose cannot be diverted for real estate projects for the benefit of others. He recalled that he had warned the Congress government about this in the Assembly two years ago. Despite this, Revanth Reddy's government spent hundreds of crores on PR and was now facing severe legal hurdles, which even officials are now admitting. The BRS leader said that during the BRS government's tenure, proposals were prepared for the Hyderabad Pharma City with 20,000 acres of land spread across 56 villages. He noted that local farmers voluntarily came forward and gave their lands for the benefit of the state. However, while the Congress party promised to return every single acre of land acquired for Pharma City to the farmers, Revanth Reddy's government was now betraying them by attempting to turn the same land into a real estate business for his family members and friends, KTR expressed outrage. He stated that the future of the land allocated for pharma companies has become uncertain. KTR alleged that even though the previous government had started developing infrastructure with crores of rupees of public money for the Pharma City project, Revanth Reddy's government sidelined it and was now trying to illegally divert the land for real estate under the name of Future City.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
History Today: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose died in a plane crash
On August 18, 1945, Subhas Chandra Bose, also known as Netaji, succumbed to his injuries after a devastating plane crash. In 1958, Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel 'Lolita' was first published in the United States. In 2005, a major earthquake in Java and Bali left over 100 million people in darkness On this day in 1945, Subhas Chandra Bose also known as Netaji, succumbed to his injuries after a devastating plane crash. Today, August 18, is a massive day. On this day in 1945, Subhas Chandra Bose also known as Netaji, succumbed to his injuries after a devastating plane crash. In 1958, Vladimir Nabokov's outrageous and controversial novel Lolita was first published in the United States. In 2005, a major earthquake in Java and Bali left millions of people in the darkness. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Subhas Chandra Bose dies in air crash Subhas Chandra Bose is one of the biggest names in Indian history. Bose, the son of a wealthy Bengali lawyer, had joined the Indian freedom movement alongside countless others. However, differences with Mahatma Gandhi over his non-violent approach against British rule – and Bose's advocacy of industralisation compared to cottage industries – led to a falling out between the two men. Bose, who had been president of the Congress Party, resigned his post in 1940 and founded the Forward Bloc. In 1941, he famously slipped out of India disguised as an Afghan. By 1945, Bose had been away from India for a few years. However, he continued fight the British by siding with the Axis Powers. He had also founded the Indian National Army (INA) which comprised 40,000 members. However, after the United States dropped two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered. Bose, getting news of the development, decided to go to Tokyo. By 1945, Netaji had been away from India for a few years. However, he continued fight the British by siding with the Axis Powers. He first went to Saigon after which he got on a plane for Tokyo – which crashed soon after taking off. Bose is said to have suffered third degree burns and passed away at an army hospital. It has now been over 80 years since Bose is widely believed to have died in the plane crash in Taiwan. Still, rumours about Netaji perhaps slipping away persist. Perhaps it is only fitting that there remains controversy and intrigue over the death of the revolutionary and freedom fighter. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lolita debuts in US Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian-born American novelist from an old aristocratic family, had published Lolita in France in 1955. However, it was not until its publication in the United States in August 1958 that the novel caught on. The tale of Humbert, a European intellectual, lusting after Dolores Haze aka Lolita took the world of literature and culture by storm. Lolita first edition cover. Image courtesy: Olympia Press The novel, which took place in small-town America, had been rejected by multiple publishers including Viking publishing for fear of its lurid themes of lust and pedophilia. The book sold a massive 100,000 copies in a matter of weeks. Some hailed it as a brilliant piece of work and satire while other derided it as filth and pornography. Lolita changed Nabokov's life. Prior to the work, no book he had ever published made him more than a few hundred dollars. It remains Nabokov's most famous work and one of the most enduring novels of the 20th Century. Java-Bali power outage in 2005 In 2005, Java and Bali suffered a massive blackout – plunging over 100 million people into darkness. The blackout, which came in the backdrop of Indonesia facing an electricity crisis, hit around 10:30 am local time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The provinces of West Java, Banten and Jakarta were all affected, as were parts of the resort island of Bali. It disrupted electricity to homes, businesses, and trains, and caused major traffic jams in the capital. Train service was also suspended in Jakarta and outlying suburbs, and some domestic flights were either delayed or cancelled. In 2005, Java and Bali suffered a massive blackout – plunging over 100 million people into darkness. AFP Many homes and business were still without electricity nearly five hours after the blackout occurred, and some schools sent students home. At the Parliament building, some legislators and visitors were forced to break open an elevator door after being trapped for about 10 minutes, as per a local media report. 'Jakarta was completely blacked out. The supply to the city had gone,' Mulyo Aji, a general manager at Perusahaan Listrik Negara, which operates the power network, told BBC. A Jakarta police spokesman said the problem seemed to be 'purely technical' and not a result of sabotage. 'All vital projects are being protected and there is no sign of infiltration,' Tjiptono said at the time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The cause of the blackout was identified as a critical failure in a 500 kV transmission line between Cilegon and Saguling in West Java.
