Kolkata’s bustling commercial life was briefly brought to a halt this week when a significant fire erupted in a building at Mechhua, near Park Street—just hours after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee toured the surrounding area to assess urban infrastructure. The fire has brought into sharp focus the lax safety practices and fragile compliance culture that have left many of the city’s aging business hubs vulnerable to disaster.
The Blaze: Sequence of Events
The fire began on Thursday afternoon around 3:05 PM at Park Centre, a mid-rise building housing a mix of offices, small retail stores, and food outlets. Smoke was first noticed by workers on a neighboring floor, who immediately raised the alarm.
The building’s top floor—a shuttered rooftop restaurant that was reportedly undergoing unauthorized renovation—was the ignition point. Fire officials say the fire likely originated from an overloaded temporary electric connection powering construction tools and lighting.
Within 20 minutes, the flames had spread to adjacent office areas. Firefighters, aided by ten engines and several water tenders, took nearly four and a half hours to bring the blaze under control. Hundreds of workers were evacuated, and at least a dozen were treated for smoke inhalation, but there were no fatalities.
Fire Safety Failures
A post-incident inspection by the fire department painted a grim picture of the building’s readiness:
- No functioning fire alarms or public address system
- Two of three emergency staircases blocked with construction material
- No operational sprinkler system
- Fire extinguishers missing or outdated on several floors
Park Centre’s last fire safety certificate had expired more than a year ago, and the new owners had not yet submitted renewal documents, according to officials at the Kolkata Fire and Emergency Services (KFES).
“This is a classic case of safety taking a backseat to commercial urgency,” said senior fire officer Alok Mukherjee. “In a high-footfall zone like Park Street, such negligence is not just irresponsible—it’s criminal.”
Timing Raises Eyebrows
The timing of the fire—coming so soon after CM Banerjee’s inspection tour of the central business district—sparked immediate political and public scrutiny. Though the CM did not visit Park Centre directly, the area fell within the jurisdiction of her inspection route.
“Every time there is a photo-op visit, the authorities clean up the streets but ignore what’s going on inside the buildings,” said Anjana Dey, a civic activist. “Had there been a genuine safety audit, this disaster might have been prevented.”
Opposition parties, including the BJP and CPI(M), used the incident to criticize the Trinamool Congress-led administration. “What good are inspections if they don’t extend to basic fire compliance?” asked BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul.
A Familiar Pattern
Unfortunately, the Park Street fire follows a well-worn pattern. Fires in Kolkata’s older commercial buildings—many of which were built before modern safety codes came into force—are not rare. In March 2021, a fire in a high-rise on Strand Road claimed nine lives. In 2010, the tragic fire at Stephen Court left 43 dead and sparked a wave of promised reforms—most of which remain under-implemented.
Despite these high-profile tragedies, enforcement remains lax. According to a 2023 audit by the KMC, more than 45% of buildings in central Kolkata do not have active fire safety certificates. Many have never been inspected after construction was completed.
Voices from the Building
At Park Centre, tenants and employees have been left shaken. “The evacuation was chaotic. There were no alarms, no instructions. We just followed each other down a narrow stairwell,” said Shaan Mehra, an office worker on the fifth floor.
Shopkeepers who lost valuable stock and office space are demanding accountability. “I pay maintenance every month. Where did that money go if there were no safety systems?” asked Renu Sharma, who runs a boutique on the second floor.
One particularly troubling detail emerged from residents in adjacent buildings: several warning signs—like frequent power outages, flickering lights, and overheating air-conditioning units—had been ignored by the building’s management committee.
Government Response and Promises
In the wake of public anger, the West Bengal government has ordered a probe. Mayor Firhad Hakim announced that a joint team from the KMC and KFES will inspect all commercial buildings in the area within 30 days.
“We will penalize and, if necessary, shut down buildings found operating without safety compliance,” he said. The Chief Minister, in a brief statement, expressed relief that no lives were lost and urged the fire services to tighten inspection routines.
While these announcements were welcomed, many remain skeptical. “We hear these same promises after every fire,” said Arvind Dutta, an architect and former member of the city’s Building Committee. “Until violators face real consequences—hefty fines, shutdown orders—nothing will change.”
A Call for Systemic Reform
Urban development experts argue that episodic inspections are not enough. “We need a digital, publicly accessible fire safety compliance dashboard,” said Amrita Sen, a policy analyst. “People should be able to look up the safety status of the buildings they work or shop in.”
Sen and others recommend the creation of a centralized fire compliance database, linking KMC approvals, fire license renewals, and structural audits. They also call for:
- Quarterly mandatory fire drills in commercial properties
- Mobile inspection squads with real-time reporting
- A hotline for tenants to report violations anonymously
- Incentives for older buildings to retrofit with modern fire systems
Technology Could Help—but Adoption is Slow
While fire safety technology has advanced—offering options like automated sensors, real-time smoke detection, and smart extinguishers—most older buildings have not adopted these tools. Cost is one barrier, but awareness and enforcement are even bigger issues.
“It’s no longer about just a hose and extinguisher,” said Anil Mitra, who runs a fire protection consultancy in the city. “If you can’t retrofit your building, you shouldn’t be allowed to operate a business from it.”
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call
The Park Centre fire may not have claimed lives, but it has made a forceful case for stronger, smarter, and sustained action on building safety. The lessons are not new, but the urgency has never been clearer.
For Kolkata, a city of heritage architecture and congested commercial hubs, the risk is not hypothetical—it’s happening, again and again. Whether this fire becomes a turning point or yet another missed opportunity will depend on what happens next—not in press briefings, but in real inspections, enforcement, and accountability.
