A fire broke out in two chemical factories near the international airport in Kolkata on Monday, leading authorities to evacuate two Air India planes from the hangar. The fire in the two factories - Puja Chemical and Cisoon Chemical at Narayanpur, adjacent to the airport, broke out at around 10 am and spread to two nearby houses.

Authorities then shifted two Air Indian planes from the hangar to the parking bay.

Sixteen fire engines are engaged in fighting the blaze, fire brigade sources said.

Airport sources said flights which take off or land at the Koikhali end of the Netaji Subhash Chander airport were doing so from the Madhyamgram side as smoke from the blaze has enveloped the area.

However, flight schedule was not disrupted, Airport operations Director General Mahesh Kaul said.