The blaze that erupted on the third floor of the mall in Kasba area and 16 fire tenders took nearly two-and-half hours to bring it under control, a fire department official said. The fire may have originated from the food court on the fourth floor, sources said.

The situation was soon brought under control, said state Fire Minister Sujit Bose, who also reached the spot.

Many people were hurriedly brought down the stairs even as several others faced breathing difficulties, sources said. “There is a multiplex and a food court on one of the floors of the mall. Since it was Friday, there were relatively more people present. Seeing the smoke, panic spread,” a staffer at the mall said.

The incident comes days after a fire broke out in a restaurant in a multi-storeyed building named Park Center on Tuesday. “The fire has been brought under control and the cooling process is underway. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, although it could have originated from the air conditioning system. The forensic team will investigate the matter,” a fire department official told PTI.

The fire broke out around 12.15 pm at a bookstore on the third floor of the shopping mall and then spread to the food court area, the official said, adding that several glass
panes had to be broken to let out the smoke.

Bose said an investigation would be conducted. “Nobody has been injured in the incident. Firefighters did an excellent job. We will send a notice to the authorities of the shopping mall, and in case any lapse is found on their part, necessary action will be taken,” Bose told mediapersons.

— WITH PTI