Kolkata: A devastating fire which broke out in a five-storey building at Gariahat in south Kolkata in the wee hours of Sunday was brought under control after a battle of ten hours by the fire brigade. Although no casualty was reported, properties worth running into several crores were destroyed.

At around 1 a.m., dark smoke started billowing out of Adi Dhakeshwari Bastralaya, a saree store on ground floor of the building at Gariahat crossing. Raging flames flashed out engulfing the makeshift structures of the hawkers on the footpath before going upwards along the advertisment hoardings. Meanwhile several stalls were gutted.

Altogether, 19 fire engines were deployed to douse the flames. Apart from the reputed garments shop, around 40 persons who live in different floors fell trapped inside. They were rescued by the fire brigade personnel unhurt with the help of the disaster management group personnel of the Kolkata police.

In the morning, the fire brigade stationed a hydraulic ladder to douse the flames. The upper floors of the building were affected also in the blaze. The tremendous heat developed cracks in some parts of the building. Since the fire broke out traffic movements on Rasbehari Avenue was diverted.

At around 11 a.m., the fire was brought under control. Kolkata mayor and urban development minister Firhad Hakim visited the spot later. He said: “I have asked the fire department to look into whether they had licences and sprinkler system since the building is pretty old. The shops were old also. So these things are needed to be looked into.”

Mr Hakim elaborated: “Items of many hawkers were gutted entirely. We are planning to introduce a new system for hawking by adding wheels. Otherwise they would not be allowed. If it is a fixed stall it creates hurdle in fire-fighting. Moreover a hawker loses his items if he runs a fixed stall and if it catches fire.”

He added: “So the stalls have to have wheels wherever hawking is allowed. Once the forensic examination is carried out, the entire area will be clea-ned. We will conduct an inspection from the KMC after the fire department gives clearance. A report will be sought from the police to ascertain how many hawkers were affected in this incident.”

Fire and emergency services minister Sujit Basu visited the spot also. He later said: “We do not want to stop anyone from doing business. But if anyone in the course of doing business occupies footpath and extends the length of his stall hoarding, it is not accepted.”

Mr Basu added: “There should be a space for pe-destrians. There are some leaders who take advantages from the hawkers. It has to be stopped. It cannot be spared.”