Kolkata:
A major fire that broke out at a slipper manufacturing unit in the city's Tiljala area couldn't be controlled till early this morning, officials said.
No casualties or injuries were reported after the fire was noticed at 10.50 pm in the manufacturing unit's godown where inflammable goods like rubber and leather was stored.
Top two floors of the building housing the factory are completely gutted, fire brigade officials said, adding that 20 fire tenders are doing their job as the blaze at C N Road couldn't be controlled till early in the morning.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to the spot after midnight along with Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy, Police Commissioner R K Panchnanda and state Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan to monitor the firefighting.
Banerjee instructed firemen to take maximum possible measures to bring the situation under control. Khan held the huge stock of inflammable goods like rubber and leather kept inside the building responsible for the fire.
"The factory unit had no fire fighting arrangements. The department will take action against them for flouting rules," he said, adding that the fire will be controlled shortly. As a precautionary measure residents from nearby buildings were evacuated to a safer place and the entire area was cordoned off.
The cause of the fire is yet to be known, officials said, adding that a short circuit is suspected to be the reason.