Fire breaks out at Statesman House, employees safe

The fire was noticed around 9.50 pm in the third floor of the heritage building, the office of The Statesman newspaper, during the peak hours of news operation.

A fire broke out at the Statesman House in Kolkata late on Saturday. The fire was noticed around 9.50 pm in the third floor of the heritage building, the office of The Statesman newspaper, during the peak hours of news operation.

The office of The Statesman newspaper in Kolkata. (Mint file photo)

Six fire tenders reached the spot and brought the blaze under control in an hour, fire officials said. Smoke billowing from the house had engulfed a major area.

Fire minister and mayor Shovan Chattopadhyay rushed to the spot to supervise the fire fighting operation.

Fire officials said there were no causalities. “The fire broke out in the systems room on the fourth floor of the building. All employees have been safely evacuated,” a fire official said.

The cause of the fire and extent of damage are yet to be ascertained. A major fire in 2006 had damaged some rooms in the ground and first floor of the building.

(With Agency Inputs)