Fire breaks out on 28th floor of South City Complex, Kolkata; 8 engines deployed
Synopsis
A fire on the 28th floor of Kolkata's South City Complex Tower 3 sent thick black smoke billowing over south Kolkata on Friday morning, drawing eight fire engines. All residents were evacuated safely and no casualties have been reported — but the cause remains unknown and investigations are pending.
Key Takeaways
A fire broke out on the 28th floor of Tower 3 at South City Complex , south Kolkata, on 30 October .
Eight fire engines were deployed; additional tenders were sent as the blaze escalated.
All residents were safely evacuated ; no casualties have been reported so far.
Thick black smoke was visible from the building, adjacent to South City Mall , causing panic among residents.
The cause of the fire is still unknown; an investigation will begin once firefighting operations conclude.
A fire broke out on the 28th floor of Tower 3 at the upscale South City residential complex in south Kolkata on Friday, 30 October, officials said. Authorities deployed eight fire engines to tackle the blaze, which has been largely brought under control with no casualties reported so far.
How the Fire Unfolded
According to fire department officials, the control room received information about a major blaze at around 8 am. Multiple fire tenders were rushed to the site immediately, with additional units dispatched as the situation developed. Before firefighters arrived, security personnel and local residents made initial efforts to contain the flames.
Eyewitnesses reported thick black smoke billowing from the affected flat, triggering widespread panic among residents of the sprawling housing complex, which is located adjacent to South City Mall.
Evacuation and Containment
Officials confirmed that all residents were safely evacuated and no one was trapped inside the building. Firefighters launched full-scale operations to prevent the blaze from spreading to adjoining floors and units.
'The fire has been largely brought under control, and there is little possibility of it spreading again. However, some work remains, and teams are checking for any lingering hotspots,' a fire department official said.
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. The extent of the damage has also not been ascertained. Authorities said a formal investigation into the source of the blaze will be initiated once firefighting operations are fully completed.
Police personnel, firefighters, and representatives of the power utility are present at the site to assist with operations and ensure public safety.
What Happens Next
Firefighting crews are continuing operations to check for residual pockets of fire and ensure no hotspots remain. This incident renews attention on fire safety protocols in high-rise residential towers across Kolkata, where several such complexes have come up in the last decade. An official investigation is expected to follow once the site is fully secured.
Point of View
And the South City incident is a reminder that speed of evacuation — not just firefighting response — is what prevents mass casualties. Eight engines for a single flat on the 28th floor signals how seriously the blaze was treated; the unknown cause is the critical loose end. Kolkata has seen a series of fire incidents in commercial and mixed-use buildings in recent years, and each time the post-incident investigation into enforcement of National Building Code fire safety norms produces limited follow-through. Whether this incident prompts a structural audit of South City's fire suppression systems — or fades once the hotspots are cleared — will be the real test.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly did the South City Complex fire break out?
The fire broke out in a flat on the 28th floor of Tower 3 at the South City residential complex in south Kolkata on Friday, 30 October. The complex is located adjacent to South City Mall.
Were there any casualties in the South City Complex fire?
No casualties have been reported so far, according to officials. All residents were safely evacuated and no one was reported trapped inside the building.
How many fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze?
Eight fire engines were deployed to the South City Complex to tackle the fire. Initial units were dispatched at around 8 am after the fire department received the alert, with additional tenders sent as the situation developed.
What caused the fire at South City Complex, Kolkata?
The cause of the fire is still unknown at this stage. Authorities said a formal investigation will be conducted once firefighting operations are fully completed.
Has the South City Complex fire been brought under control?
The fire has been largely brought under control, according to fire department officials. Teams are continuing to check for lingering hotspots to ensure the blaze does not reignite.
