Shops gutted in mid-night fire in Siliguri

A fire broke out in Bidhan market reducing seven shops to ashes and partially damaging a few others.

A fire broke out in Bidhan market reducing seven shops to ashes and partially damaging a few others in Siliguri on midnight Saturday, fire brigade sources said.

HT Image

The fire which originated from a clothing shop spread to its shops. Three fire tenders took the blaze under control and saved the congested market place within 20 minutes.

Short circuit could be the reason behind the fire, the sources said.

The loss of property as assessed primarily could be over Rs 15 lakh, a spokesman of the market committee said.

Meanwhile, the demand for an amount of Rs 15,000 claimed by the fire brigade for the service caused a serious concern to the affected businessmen.

The municipal councilor of the ward, Nantu Paul described the fire brigade service charge as 'inhuman and impractical'. Paul said that he would take up the matter to the appropriate level specially when the affected businessmen needed relief and sympathy.