In a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in some of Kolkata’s busiest commercial pockets, a massive fire broke out at a business complex near Park Street, only hours after the Chief Minister’s visit to the surrounding area. The fire, which erupted in the Mechhua region within the Park Centre building—a structure teeming with offices, eateries, and retail spaces—has sparked renewed concern over lax enforcement of fire safety standards and regulatory oversight in the city.
The Incident: How It Unfolded
The fire began at approximately 3:10 PM on Thursday afternoon in the upper floors of the Park Centre. Eye-witnesses reported smoke emanating from what appeared to be the kitchen area of a rooftop restaurant that had recently been closed for renovation. Within minutes, thick black smoke engulfed the higher floors, prompting an emergency evacuation of the building.
“Flames were coming out of the top floor. People were running down the stairs, some coughing, others helping elderly employees,” said Rahul Dey, a security guard at a nearby building. “We could feel the heat from across the street.”
Ten fire tenders were dispatched to the location, supported by rapid action teams and police units to manage the growing crowd of onlookers and ensure surrounding buildings were evacuated. It took nearly four and a half hours to bring the fire under control.
Fire officials have confirmed that while there were no fatalities, at least seven people were treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation.
No Fire Safety Clearance
According to senior fire officials, the Park Centre complex had no updated fire safety certificate. The building’s previous owner had secured one in 2021, but it expired last year, and the new ownership—having taken over in early 2024—had not applied for renewal. Investigators also found that multiple fire exits were blocked by furniture or storage material, and that there were no functioning fire alarms or extinguishers on several floors.
A preliminary probe indicates that the fire likely began due to a short circuit near the rooftop kitchen area, where construction work had recently resumed without proper licensing.
“This was a disaster waiting to happen,” said Anil Saha, Assistant Director of the Fire Services Department. “It reflects the casual attitude towards fire safety in many of Kolkata’s commercial buildings.”
CM’s Visit Draws Attention
What has particularly drawn media and public attention is the timing of the incident. Just a day prior, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was in the area as part of an official visit to inspect civic infrastructure and meet business leaders in the central business district. While the CM did not visit this particular building, the close proximity of the fire has sparked criticism about the superficial nature of civic inspections.
“The Chief Minister came, saw, and left—and a building caught fire the very next day. That speaks volumes,” said Paritosh Dutta, a resident and local businessman.
Recurring Pattern of Fires in Commercial Zones
This latest fire adds to a long list of similar incidents in Kolkata’s central business area, where high footfall and decades-old structures coexist, often without proper safety retrofits. In 2021, a fire at a multi-storey office building on Strand Road resulted in nine deaths, including senior railway officials. In 2018, the Bagree Market inferno raged for nearly 60 hours and gutted hundreds of wholesale shops.
Each tragedy has been followed by public outcry and official promises of reforms, but enforcement continues to fall short, experts say.
“Until now, safety norms have largely been treated as bureaucratic checkboxes. This incident must be a turning point,” urged Professor Meera Banerjee, who studies urban risk management at Presidency University.
What the Law Requires—And What’s Missing
As per the West Bengal Fire Services Act, commercial buildings exceeding 15 meters in height or covering a large floor area are required to have:
- Valid fire safety clearance
- Emergency exits and signage
- Sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers
- Annual inspections and compliance documentation
In practice, however, compliance is sporadic. Many owners, especially of older buildings, delay or avoid updates due to the costs involved. Worse, unauthorized construction and remodeling—like the recent rooftop additions at Park Centre—often go unchecked.
Business Impact and Reactions
Many businesses operating from the Park Centre have suffered major losses, both physical and financial. “We’ve lost months of invoices and hardware,” said Kaushik Sen, who runs an IT firm on the third floor. “The water used to douse the fire seeped into our entire office.”
Retailers and restaurant owners voiced similar grievances. A boutique on the second floor reportedly lost stock worth ₹10 lakh.
“It’s not just the fire. It’s the loss of trust. Clients will think twice about visiting,” said Reena Paul, who runs a wellness center in the building.
Political and Administrative Reactions
Reacting to mounting public pressure, the Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement calling for an immediate audit of commercial fire safety certifications across the Park Street and Esplanade regions. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim promised swift action, including issuing stop-work notices to buildings under unauthorized renovation.
“We will leave no stone unturned. Lapses will be dealt with sternly,” Hakim said, adding that the KMC and fire department will collaborate on a city-wide commercial safety audit starting next week.
Opposition parties, however, were quick to pounce. BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya called the incident “a failure of both leadership and governance.” CPI(M) leaders demanded that the government publish a list of high-risk commercial buildings and the status of their compliance.
A Call for Long-Term Reform
Urban policy analysts believe this incident, while not the most devastating in terms of lives lost, offers a valuable opportunity to overhaul safety mechanisms.
“The issue is not lack of laws but lack of intent. We need a transparent, tech-enabled fire safety monitoring system, regular training programs for business owners, and mandatory drills for tenants,” said Ravi Kapoor, a former member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Kapoor also recommended creating a public database of buildings with lapsed fire certificates and requiring e-clearance for any renovations in commercial properties.
Conclusion: Lessons from the Flames
The Park Street blaze has cast a harsh spotlight on the fragile state of fire preparedness in one of India’s busiest metros. While quick action by firefighters prevented a larger tragedy, the lack of prior enforcement and oversight raises uncomfortable questions for city planners, officials, and property owners alike.
If the government’s pledges lead to genuine reform—beginning with inspections, enforcement, and digital monitoring—this fire may become the moment that finally ignited change. Otherwise, it will simply become another entry on a long and growing list of warnings unheeded.