Huge India market fire continues

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

More than 6,000 shops have been destroyed in the fire

A deadly fire that has ravaged two huge markets in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta has continued to rage for a third consecutive day, officials say.

More than 6,000 shops have been destroyed in the blaze in the trading locality of Burrabazar, said state fire services minister Pratim Chattopadhyay. Scores of traders have been left penniless after their stocks were wiped out by the blaze, he said.

The cause of the fire, the worst in the city in recent times, is still unclear.

Officials have reported no casualties.

Firefighters from the army have joined those from the local fire services department to control the blaze, but efforts have not been successful, the fire services minister said.

"The situation worsened on Sunday night when several fresh explosions were reported. A generator exploded on one of the burning roofs of a high rise, several gas cylinders also exploded and the fire that looked under control worsened," Mr Chattopadhyay said.

The Nandaram and Kanshiram markets have been completely destroyed by the blaze.

Thriving

The Burrabazar locality, Calcutta's most thriving traditional trading market, degenerated into chaos with no electricity in most of its areas and thousands of telephones out of order.

Huge traffic snarls were reported from the area early on Monday.

Traders have been worst hit by the blaze

Firefighters, including those from the army, had to back off from the two buildings after the fresh explosions on the rooftops.

They were drawing water from three ponds in the vicinity but say there was not enough to control the huge blaze.

Local police have begun an iquiry into allegations that prospective developers had the fire started on purpose.