With nine fire incidents reported in the city in the last three months, Bhattacharya said the traders are yet to learn from the Nandaram fire, which destroyed the Nandaram market in the Burabazar area last year.

“Kolkata traders have not learnt anything from the fire which destroyed the entire building. Even today they rampantly flout fire safety norms,” said Bhattacharya.

The inquiry report submitted after the 100-hour-long blaze at Nandaram market had pointed out that the building had violated all fire safety precautions.

Bhattacharya today further added that none of the warehouses on Strand Road had installed any fire safety measures. “Most of the fires in these areas occur due to electrical short-circuits, but the Kolkata traders do not seem bothered. Why should they blame us for not controlling the fire when these accidents break out because of their negligence,” said Bhattacharya.

After the Nandaram disaster, added Bhattacharya, the Fire department along with the KMC and Kolkata police had earmarked 33 structures in the area that needed proper re-hauling.

“We told the (trader) community about how fire safety measures could be installed in these buildings, but they refused saying it would be too expensive to fire-proof these buildings,” he said, adding: “Our hands are tied as we cannot legally ask them to do anything.”

Bhattacharya also lashed out against Sudip Bandopadhyay, local MP, who had blamed the Fire department’s old equipment for its inefficiency in dousing the flames.