A terrifying series of explosions and a massive fire ripped through a storage facility holding medical oxygen cylinders in Kolkata's Kankurgachhi area late on Wednesday night, sending shockwaves through neighbouring localities and causing significant structural damage. The incident, which occurred in the Lohapatty area on Ghoshbagan Lane, fortunately resulted in no loss of life, with four workers present at the site managing to escape unhurt.
Night of Terror for Residents
The chaos began around 2:30 am on Thursday at the facility located at 150, Ghoshbagan Lane. Residents from areas as far as Salt Lake and Girish Park reported being jolted awake by a loud initial boom, followed by a succession of blasts that continued for nearly half an hour. The force was so intense that it shattered windows and caused walls in nearby houses to crack, with sections of plaster collapsing.
"It felt like we were in a war zone. Some blasts were loud, others milder. I have never had such an experience," recounted Anisha Sen, a resident of Purbachal in Salt Lake. Another local, Mohammad Tahir from Eden Hospital Road, said he woke up thinking a war had broken out. The sound of the explosions was reportedly heard even beyond a 2-kilometre radius, with people near CR Avenue also reporting the blasts.
Firefighting and Aftermath
A massive response involving fifteen fire engines and disaster management personnel was launched. Firefighters battled the blaze for over three hours, finally bringing it under control around 5:45 am. However, pocket fires continued to flare up until noon on Thursday. The fire spread to two nearby godowns storing plastic and iron, and a burning cylinder was propelled into a thread factory, triggering another significant fire.
Throughout Thursday, authorities worked to remove damaged shop roofs and charred tin sheets to prevent further flare-ups. There was a discrepancy in the number of cylinders affected; while locals claimed at least five dozen were involved, police officials estimated around 15 cylinders were damaged.
Investigation into Negligence Launched
The Maniktala police have initiated proceedings to file an FIR in the case, citing negligence. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who commented on the incident, indicated that preliminary investigations suggest not all necessary licences were in place at the storage facility. Local MLA Supti Pandey later visited the site to assess the damage.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the storage and safety protocols for industrial and medical gas cylinders in densely populated urban areas. The structural damage to surrounding houses underscores the potential risk such facilities can pose if safety regulations are not strictly adhered to.
