Fire department asks Priya Cinema to stop screenings

Kolkata: The state fire and emergency department on Monday directed the Priya Cinema Hall’s closure, temporarily, after it had caught fire, which however broke out at a momo outlet on the ground floor of the building on Sunday night. The audience of the night show had a narrow escape. But Priya Entertainment owner Arijit Dutta claimed there was no order for closure.

A state forensic science laboratory team, which inspected the building and collected samples, found that origin of the blaze was at the momo outlet from where the flames went upwards. After visiting the building, director general (fire and emergency services) Jag Mohan said, “The police will investigate how the fire broke out and from where. Besides, our officers will also probe. Their observations will be integrated.”

He elaborated, “The cinema owner is fully cooperative. There is no problem in it. They are helping in the investigation. Everything is going on smoothly. Besides, the cinema owner has the licence which we examined. But we are also probing issues like maintenance and systems, if they were functional or not. There is maximum impact on the first floor due to the fire. The ground floor was also inspected.”

Mr Jag Mohan added, “We have asked them to stop the show at the hall now. Let us investigate. Later we will take the call whether to keep the hall shut or reopen if required.”

Mr Dutta said, “We have all fire safety measures in place. We got fire clearance in May. We never compromised and would not do so with fire safety. We have not been asked to keep the hall closed.”

Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee, also the fire and emergency services minister, said, “I visited the spot with the fire brigade personnel who fought the blaze. While entering the hall I found flames in a room, full of wires, on its right side which is the hall’s control room. It didn’t look  like a momo outlet.”

K09