Introduction
On a seemingly normal Friday afternoon, chaos erupted in South Kolkata as a fire broke out on the third floor of Acropolis Mall. The incident, which occurred around noon, forced an immediate evacuation of the building, including the mall’s numerous shops, offices, and a bustling food court. The Kolkata mall fire, as it is now known, has left many in the city shaken and brought to light serious concerns regarding fire safety protocols.
The Incident
The fire is believe to have start in the food court, eventually spreading to the bookstore located directly above. Eyewitnesses report that the alarm sounded shortly after noon, with an announcement over the public address system urging everyone to evacuate the premises. Krishna Jha, senior operations manager at Acropolis Mall, state that the building was equip with a robust firefighting and prevention system, which play a crucial role in preventing casualties.
Evacuation Challenges
The evacuation process was fraught with difficulties. According to Biswajit Dutta, an executive from Ssoftoons Animation housed on the sixth floor, it took him over 20 minutes to exit the building. “I will never forget those 15-20 minutes,” Dutta recounted. “It was dark and smoky. There were hundreds of people — men and women — in the staircase, all trying to rush out. We all were stuck. If someone pushed, it triggered commotion and further delay. I almost tripped several times.”
Dutta noted that although the building had two emergency stairway exits, one was block from the fifth floor due to its proximity to the fire’s origin. This blockage force everyone to use the same stairway, causing a bottleneck situation. The emergency stairway was clutter with various objects, adding to the chaos.
Eyewitness Accounts
The Cinepolis cinema within Acropolis Mall also witnessed a hurried evacuation. A patron attending a morning show described how Cinepolis employees entered the auditorium and instructed everyone to leave due to the fire in the food court. “There were about 15-20 people in the auditorium and we all shuffle out through the usual exit, except this time we were herded out via the stairs at the back. People started running down the stairs, with more people joining on each floor landing,” the patron shared.
The patrons were out of the building by 12:15 PM, by which time smoke was visibly billowing from behind the rounded part of the building. The smoke intensified rapidly, prompting store workers to express concerns about personal belongings left behind.
Response and Firefighting Efforts
The Kolkata Fire Department responded swiftly, deploying 15 fire tenders to the scene. Firemen smash glass facades and windows to allow the smoke to escape, while a hydraulic ladder was use to spray water into the affect areas. The firefighting efforts continue until the situation was brought under control by 3 PM. Thankfully, there were no casualties, although significant damage was report, particularly to the Crossword bookstore and several other stores.
Fire Department’s Actions
Fire department officials confirmed that access to one of the staircases from the fifth floor was restrict as it was near the seat of the fire. This precaution was deem necessary to prevent potential disasters. A smoke extractor machine was there to clear the fumes, and additional safety measures were put in place to manage the situation.
Fire Minister Sujit Bose and Civil Defence and Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan were present at the site, overseeing the firefighting operations. Bose emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough inquiry into the incident. “If anyone is found guilty, appropriate action will be taken. We will inquire into all aspects,” he stated.
Aftermath and Reactions
The fire at Acropolis Mall has sparked widespread concern and raised questions about fire safety standards in commercial buildings. This incident came just 72 hours after another fire broke out in a Camac Street building, also during renovation works.
Personal Accounts and Safety Concerns
Many who were present during the Kolkata mall fire have shared their harrowing experiences. Mainak Chowdhury, an employee at a clothing store on the second floor, initially ignored the alarm, mistaking it for a routine drill. “It was the chaos and screaming of people that alerted us about the fire around noon,” Chowdhury said. He promptly closed his store and evacuated, noticing that smoke had already reached the ground floor.
Munna Lal Agarwal, owner of Simbaa Playzone on the fourth floor, expressed relief that the incident occurred on a relatively quiet Friday afternoon. “The children’s playpen had three kids at the time. On Sundays, the arena has about 50 children and their parents at any point of time,” Agarwal explained. His team ensured the safe evacuation of the children and parents present.
Investigations and Future Precautions
Krishna Jha assured that an internal investigation would be conduct to determine the cause of the fire and assess the building’s fire safety measures. Preliminary inspections suggest that electrical renovation work in the food court ceiling may have triggered the fire. A forensic report is await to confirm the exact cause.
The fire department’s quick response and the building’s existing safety measures were crucial in preventing casualties. However, the incident has highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations, particularly in high-rise commercial complexes.
Conclusion
The Kolkata mall fire at Acropolis Mall serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety preparedness and the potential dangers posed by inadequate safety measures. While the swift action of the fire department and the building’s safety systems prevented a tragedy. The chaos and fear experienced by those inside underscore the need for continuous improvement in safety protocols.
As investigations continue and the mall management pledges to enhance safety measures. It is imperative for other commercial establishments to review and upgrade their fire safety standards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
