Fire in Kolkata again: 700 shanties burnt, 1,500 homeless

Kolkata : Around 700 shanty huts of the poor were destroyed, leaving around 1,500 people homless in a fire that broke out in Maheshtala area’s Sholo Bigha slum of South 24 Parganas district Saturday, police said.

There were no reports of any injuries.

The police have, however, detained some people who locals alleged were involved in setting the slum on fire.

Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

Leader of the opposition and Communist Party of India – Marxist politburo member Surjyo Kanta Mishra went to the spot and spoke to the affected people, who alleged that it was a case of arson in which “some Trinamool Congress men” were involved.

However, the Trinamool denied the allegations.

Mishra demanded rehabilitation of the affected people.