1234 Kolkata: The fire that claimed two lives in Pathuriaghata on Monday once again exposed the vulnerability of Kolkata's Central Business District to fire hazards due to rampant encroachment and poor enforcement of safety norms.
Monday's incident follows closely on the heels of a similar incident in March, when a fire broke out at a roadside eatery on Kalakar Street in Burrabazar, injuring four people. Investigations revealed that the eatery was cooking with open flames on the pavement, just inches from a busy road and tangled overhead electric wires.
In 2018, a blaze in Bagree Market, which originated from a stall outside, partially gutted the market and damaged goods worth several hundred crores. Hawkers in these areas draw power from nearby posts to light up their stalls, cook in the open, and encroach on pavements as well as carriageways, eating into space for the movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
According to firefighters, the combination of narrow lanes clogged with illegal stalls and traffic snarls hamper their response. "Burrabazar area is a nightmare during fire emergencies," said a senior officer of the fire department. "Sometimes reaching the fire spot is as difficult as dousing the fire itself. Pavements are encroached, and even the carriageways are blocked. We lose precious time due to this."
Currently, in and around Pathuriaghata, pavements are overrun with makeshift stalls selling garments, food, and household items. With no space to walk, pedestrians are forced onto the road, choking the traffic. The 2018 blaze, which partially gutted Bagree Market on Canning Street, also originated from a hawker's stall on the street outside.
Residents and local traders say the problem has persisted for years, with little action from the authorities. "We live in constant fear," said Amit Das, a shopkeeper in the area. "There are open flames, gas cylinders, and crisscrossing wires everywhere. The hawkers use multiple power points, and the whole place is a tinderbox."
Officials at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) admit the seriousness of the problem but say enforcement is often met with political and logistical challenges. "The unions are powerful and threaten to create chaos if the hawkers are removed. They also serve as votebanks. There has to be a political solution," said an official.