Kolkata: The residents of the slum at Anandapur who lost their houses in the devastating fire on Sunday morning have been shifted to a temporary camp on a vacant government land in the locality. The camp was set up by KMC at a stone’s throw from the fire-ravaged slum, Naskarhat Khalpar Sramik Pally.
A forensic team inspected the spot of the fire for two hours on Monday.“Primarily, they called it an accidental fire but clarified that its exact cause could not be ascertained since the possible sources of the blaze like gas cylinders, electric boards, wires and other combustible materials were gutted,” said a senior officer.
Nearly 50 of the slum’s 62 houses were destroyed in the fire and around 250 people became homeless. While a majority of the affected families moved to the 45 makeshift structures at the camp, some took shelter in the houses of their relatives in nearby localities.
Those who have taken shelter in the camp are being served food thrice a day. Blankets, garments and utensils were distributed among them. If need be, more makeshift shelters would be created, said an official.
Local councillor Sushanta Kumar Ghosh said: “These people have lost everything in the fire. So, we are trying to ensure that they don’t face any problem in the camp. We have made all necessary arrangements for them.”
On Monday, some residents of the slum were found rummaging through the charred debris with the hope of finding some of their lost properties. Brajen Mondal, a slum-dweller, rued: “Everyone ran helter-skelter when the fire broke out. My wife and I could not carry anything while running out of the house. There was Rs 50,000 cash in my house along with grocery items. I could not trace them.”
Another resident Suchitra Halder said: “I have saved a pair of rabbits, three gas cylinders and some utensils while the rest were gutted.”
(With inputs from
Dwaipayan Ghosh)
A forensic team inspected the spot of the fire for two hours on Monday.“Primarily, they called it an accidental fire but clarified that its exact cause could not be ascertained since the possible sources of the blaze like gas cylinders, electric boards, wires and other combustible materials were gutted,” said a senior officer.
Nearly 50 of the slum’s 62 houses were destroyed in the fire and around 250 people became homeless. While a majority of the affected families moved to the 45 makeshift structures at the camp, some took shelter in the houses of their relatives in nearby localities.
Those who have taken shelter in the camp are being served food thrice a day. Blankets, garments and utensils were distributed among them. If need be, more makeshift shelters would be created, said an official.
Local councillor Sushanta Kumar Ghosh said: “These people have lost everything in the fire. So, we are trying to ensure that they don’t face any problem in the camp. We have made all necessary arrangements for them.”
On Monday, some residents of the slum were found rummaging through the charred debris with the hope of finding some of their lost properties. Brajen Mondal, a slum-dweller, rued: “Everyone ran helter-skelter when the fire broke out. My wife and I could not carry anything while running out of the house. There was Rs 50,000 cash in my house along with grocery items. I could not trace them.”
Another resident Suchitra Halder said: “I have saved a pair of rabbits, three gas cylinders and some utensils while the rest were gutted.”
(With inputs from
Dwaipayan Ghosh)