Howrah: A 65-year-old retired schoolteacher was burnt to death and another person suffered 60% burns after a fire broke out at Uddalok residential complex in Mourigram, Howrah, around 1 pm on Wednesday. Six others, who suffered suffocation and minor burns, were treated at Howrah District Hospital and discharged.Police identified the deceased as Gopa Mukherjee, who was alone in her flat when the fire broke out. Her family members were away at work. The blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in a second-floor flat, spread rapidly to adjoining floors of the G+4 residential building, which has 24 flats. Residents said they heard several gas cylinders explode as flames engulfed parts of the complex.Locals were the first to rush in and rescue some trapped residents before the fire brigade arrived. Firemen later rescued around 40 people from the smoke-filled building.BJP functionery Masud Alam Khan said, “Hearing the residents screaming, we rushed over. By then, the fire had already spread. I immediately called Domjur Police Station. We then began throwing water from a nearby pond. Within about 20 minutes, the first three fire engines arrived.”Seven fire engines were pressed into service. A fire officer said, “around 3.45 pm, the fire came under control.”Residents alleged that the building has no fire extinguishers and said the only staircase is too narrow, which made evacuation difficult. Tridip Naskar, a resident, said, “First, there was a sudden power cut. Then everything was engulfed in flames and dense black smoke. My wife and I quickly came down the stairs.”A police officer said, “The charred body of a woman was recovered from a kitchen on the third floor.” Hospital officials said one injured resident was shifted to the burn ward with around 60% burns.
