A fire broke out at the hanging restaurant inside Kolkata's iconic Biswa Bangla Gate in New Town on Vijaya Dashami evening, triggering panic as smoke billowed from the restaurant and sparks rained down onto the road 82 feet below, eyewitnesses told India Today. Fire engines rushed to the spot, while police personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.
According to local sources, a large number of guests were at the hanging restaurant, the only one of its kind in Kolkata, on Wednesday evening, the last day of Durga Puja.
Around 6.30 pm, when approximately 50-60 guests were dining, a fire suddenly broke out. Sparks began falling from the restaurant onto the road below, following which police stopped traffic on the main road beneath Biswa Bangla Gate as a precaution. All guests and staff were promptly evacuated to safety.
Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Amit Kumar Bharat Rathore reached the spot after receiving information about the incident. Senior police officers from New Town and Techno City police stations were also present.
After inspecting the site, Commissioner Amit Kumar Bharat Rathore said the fire had broken out at around 6.30 pm in the section housing the restaurant atop Biswa Bangla Gate. The fire was brought under control quickly through the joint efforts of the fire department and police.
The swift response of the fire department helped avert a major disaster. Fire department and The West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) officials are now investigating the cause of the blaze, including whether it was triggered by a short circuit or a malfunction in the kitchen. No casualties or injuries have been reported in the incident.
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