What Happened at Bengal's Bagha Jatin Railway Station?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, January 12 (NationPress) - Train services operating locally experienced significant disruptions this morning at the South Section of the Sealdah division of East Railways, following a devastating fire at Bagha Jatin railway station.
As of the time this report was compiled, localized train services had returned to normal. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from the inferno that ignited in a temporary stall located on the platform.
The blaze erupted around 6:30 a.m. at a garments shop on platform two of Bagha Jatin station. Due to the flammable materials used to construct the shop and the items stored within, the entire establishment was engulfed in flames almost instantly. Additionally, the fire spread quickly to nearby temporary shops on the same platform because of the strong winds. Passengers waiting on both platforms panicked and fled the station.
At the time of the fire, the station was bustling with activity, as thousands of local aides and contract workers were traveling to Kolkata from various areas in the South 24 Parganas district to earn their livelihoods.
Fire response teams arrived swiftly after being alerted, commencing efforts to extinguish the blaze.
After approximately one hour of intense firefighting, the fire was finally controlled. The garments and other items within the shop were completely destroyed. Extensive damage is anticipated; however, initial reports indicate that no casualties occurred.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with railway authorities and the fire department collaborating on the inquiry.
In the meantime, due to safety precautions following the fire, train services on the down line of the South Section of Sealdah Division were temporarily halted. For about an hour, all train operations were suspended.
The up line was also impacted, with numerous local trains halted at various stations. As conditions stabilized, train services were gradually resumed.