24 dead; Kolkata blaze extinguished

Tags: Fire, Kolkata Fire , Kolkata

At least 24 persons are feared dead and 20 injured in a massive fire at an iconic building on Kolkata's Park Street. The fire was finally brought under control after four hours.

The fire at Stephen Court building began at around 2.30 pm. As many as four persons jumped to escape one of the worst blaze in the city and scores were trapped.

As many as 300 firemen and 40 fire tenders and snorkels were sent to fight the blaze, which originated from one of the lifts between the fifth and sixth floors of the building, said Fire Services minister Pratim Chatterjee. An electrical fault is suspected to have caused the fire.

As a thick smoke engulfed the building, firemen put up ladders to rescue the trapped people who had scrambled out from windows on ledges of the building. Several people also clung to the ledges of the building before they were rescued.

Stephen Court, located in the heart of the city, houses the iconic 100-year-old Flury's confectionery house, a popular restaurant called Peter Cat, a large music store called Music World and several other offices.

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