Kolkata market fire guts 15 shops in Bagha Jatin; no casualties
Synopsis
A pre-dawn fire at Baghajatin Bazar in South Kolkata on 20 October gutted 15 shops, with 15 fire tenders battling the blaze for nearly three hours. Traders suffered heavy losses just ahead of the puja season — and investigators still do not know what started it.
Key Takeaways
A fire broke out at Baghajatin Bazar , Bagha Jatin , South Kolkata , at around 4 am on 20 October 2026 .
An estimated 15 shops have been gutted, with the fire believed to have started in a puja items store.
15 fire tenders were deployed; the blaze was brought under control in approximately three hours .
No casualties have been reported so far.
Traffic on Raja SC Mallick Road connecting Garia and Jadavpur was disrupted.
The cause of the fire and full extent of losses remain under investigation.
A major fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, 20 October at the Baghajatin Bazar market in South Kolkata's Bagha Jatin area, gutting an estimated 15 shops before firefighters could bring the blaze under control. No casualties have been reported so far, according to officials at the scene.
How the Fire Spread
Authorities from the State Fire Services Department said the fire is believed to have originated in a shop stocking puja items at around 4 am on Tuesday morning. From there, it spread rapidly to adjacent establishments. 15 fire tenders were deployed to the spot, and it took nearly three hours to fully bring the blaze under control. Firefighters also worked to contain the fire and prevent it from engulfing other sections of the market.
What Officials Said
'A total of 15 fire tenders immediately rushed to the spot, and it took almost three hours to bring the fire under control. The fire is totally under control now,' a fire department official said. The same official noted that the exact cause of the fire and the full extent of losses are yet to be determined. 'It is still not clear what caused the fire at that particular shop. Initial estimate is that a total of 15 shops have been gutted... However, the exact quantum of loss can be estimated later after thorough investigation,' the official added.
Police Response and Traffic Disruption
Officers from the local Netaji Nagar Police Station reached the site shortly after news of the fire broke in the morning. The fire disrupted traffic along Raja SC Mallick Road, the arterial stretch connecting Garia and Jadavpur, with police deployed to manage the situation. The road was partially blocked as fire tenders operated on site.
Traders Devastated Ahead of Puja Season
Several shopkeepers and traders rushed to Baghajatin Bazar on learning of the fire, many of whom were reportedly left in shock after losing their stock ahead of the ongoing festive season. The timing is particularly harsh, with traders having stocked up on puja-related merchandise for the season. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Jadavpur, Sharbari Mukherjee, also visited the site. Investigations into the precise cause of the fire are underway, and the full scale of property damage is expected to be assessed once the area has been cleared and inspected.
Point of View
Particularly in the run-up to high-footfall festival seasons when stock density is at its peak. The fact that the cause remains unknown hours after the blaze was controlled points to gaps in fire-safety auditing of such commercial clusters. With the puja economy running into crores in South Kolkata alone, the human and financial toll on small traders could be severe even without a single casualty. Local authorities would do well to use this incident as a trigger for a wider safety review of similar bazaars before the festive rush peaks.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Kolkata market fire break out on 20 October?
The fire broke out at Baghajatin Bazar in the Bagha Jatin area of South Kolkata on 20 October 2026. It is believed to have originated in a shop selling puja items at around 4 am.
How many shops were damaged in the Baghajatin Bazar fire?
According to initial estimates from State Fire Services Department officials, approximately 15 shops were gutted. The exact quantum of damage is yet to be determined pending a full investigation.
Were there any casualties in the Kolkata fire?
No casualties have been reported so far, according to fire department and police officials present at the scene.
How long did it take to control the fire at Bagha Jatin?
It took approximately three hours for 15 fire tenders to bring the blaze under control. Firefighters also worked to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the market.
What is known about the cause of the Baghajatin Bazar fire?
The cause of the fire has not been established yet. Fire department officials said the blaze is believed to have started in a puja items shop around 4 am, but an investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause.
