12 Kolkata: A fire that broke out twice at a slum on Padmapukur Lane in Ballygunge has prompted a police investigation amid allegations of foul play by real estate promoters. Four shanties were gutted, even as a forensic team collected evidence on Friday to ascertain if the fire was set externally.
The initial fire started at 11:30 pm on Thursday, forcing residents to evacuate the shanties. Three fire tenders responded and contained the blaze within an hour. However, the fire reignited at 3:30 am Friday and it took firefighters until 7 am to douse the flames.
Residents alleged that local real estate promoters, who were pressuring them to vacate the property, orchestrated the twin fires. "They've been trying to force us out for months," said a local resident.
Mayor Firhad Hakim visited the site late Thursday night and promised assistance to affected families even as locals told him they lost everything in the fire. They also demanded action against a local promoter. No injuries were reported in the incident.
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