Topsia sofa factory blaze in Kolkata spreads panic, buildings evacuated
Times of India | 17 January 2026
Kolkata: A major fire broke out at a furniture manufacturing factory in south-east Kolkata's Topsia area on Friday afternoon.
Eleven fire tenders were deployed to douse the blaze, which broke out in the sofa factory.
The flames spread to a nearby garage and a house, triggering panic in the congested locality, locals said. Police and fire officials said nearby buildings were evacuated. Workers inside the unit were also evacuated, locals said.
Five fire engines had initially reached the spot, followed by additional units. Firefighters faced difficulties accessing the site and positioning equipment because of narrow lanes and dense construction around the factory, officials said. Fire personnel attempted to create entry points by breaking sections of walls to reach the seat of the fire. Officials did not confirm the extent of damage to adjacent properties by late afternoon.
According to local sources, the factory stored large quantities of flammable materials used in furniture production, including foam, fabric, and finished or semi-finished sofas. No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report, officials said. Police cordoned off the area. Cause of fire is yet to be ascertained.