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Asia’s largest flower market on fire

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Express news service

Posted: Apr 12, 2008 at 0203 hrs IST

Kolkata, April 11 A devastating fire broke out on Friday evening, gutting over 240 shops in Phoolbazar, Asia’s largest flower market. The fire service has rushed 16 fire tenders to the spot. The fire service sources said the fire was triggered by an LPG cylinder blast around 8.30 pm in the office of the Phoolbazar traders’ committee and spread rapidly towards the Howrah Bridge. No casualty has been reported as yet.

Kolkata Commissioner of Police Gautam Mohan Chakraborty said the fire was brought under control at around 10 pm. “The fire is devastating. We are trying every possible means to control it, but the problem has been intensified by strong wind from the Hooghly River, which is fanning the flames. We have requested the Calcutta Port Trust to provide us with additional fire tenders.”

Chakraborty added three fire tenders have also been kept on stand-by. “We are trying our best to ensure that the blaze does not reach the Howrah Bridge. To ensure further safety, all lights along the Howrah Bridge have been turned off.”

Fire service sources added that water wasn’t a problem due to the proximity to the Hooghly. Traffic police officers added that the fire had caused thrown traffic out of gear with snarls being reported on Brabourne Road, Strand Road, Esplanade, Mahatma Gandhi Road and Dalhousie areas in the heart of the city.

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