Cook charred to death in eatery fire

Kolkata: An aged cook was charred to death while two others were injured after a fire broke out at a restaurant in Birati of North 24 Parganas on Monday morning. At around 11.45 am, dark smoke started billowing out of the eatery on Jessore Road at Birati College-more. The eatery was however closed then. Local residents heard screams inside. Two fire engines were pressed into service.

Fire-fighters took the charred body of Rabin Raut (55) and rescued two others, including head cook Dipankar Nath (35), from the kitchen. The situation was brought under control within two hours. The injured were rushed to R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital where they are being treated now. Condition of Dipankar is critical, according to the doctors.

Fire brigade officials suspect that the blaze broke out due to leakage in the gas cylinder. One of them said that there was no sign of any explosion before the fire. He, however, added that although the restaurant has a licence, it did not have any fire safety measure in place. Talking to one of the injured, the police later found that the fire broke out when a gas cylinder was being moved from one spot to another.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out at Swasthya Bhavan, the state heath department’s headquarters in the morning.