It took about 30 fire tenders nearly six hours to douse the fire that reportedly started from a heap of choir mats that were dumped in the market.

A few workers who had taken night shelter in the market located at 167, Lenin Sarani, intimated the fire department as soon as they saw fire billowing out.

“The fire melted closed shutters of shops and the roof of all shops have collapsed. I had four shops in the market having plywoods and other materials over Rs 40 lakh,” said Md Ezaz, a local shopkeeper.

Rescue operations were reportedly hampered as the market had little space for fire engines to navigate. The two sides of the market are separated by a narrow lane less than 4 ft wide.

“It was difficult to bring the fire under control. The items stacked in shops were highly inflammable. Although the fire has been brought under control, it is still smouldering,” said Swapan Majumdar, station officer of the Kolkata fire department.