Major Blaze at Topsia Furniture Factory Spreads Panic: 11 Fire Tenders Battle the Inferno

A massive fire broke out at a furniture manufacturing unit in the Topsia area of South-East Kolkata on Friday afternoon, triggering widespread panic in one of the city’s most congested localities. The blaze, which was first reported around 3:10 PM at a sofa manufacturing factory on Topsia Road, rapidly escalated due to the high volume of flammable materials stored inside the premises. Towering flames and thick columns of black smoke could be seen from the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, causing concern among commuters and nearby high-rise residents.

The fire department initially dispatched five engines to the site, but as the flames began spreading toward a nearby garage and an adjacent residential house, the response was scaled up to 11 fire tenders. Firefighters faced significant challenges in containing the inferno due to the extremely narrow lanes and dense construction of the Topsia area. To reach the seat of the fire, personnel had to create makeshift entry points by breaking through sections of the factory’s walls, as the standard access routes were too cramped for heavy equipment.

Local sources confirmed that the factory was a major hub for sofa production, housing large quantities of foam, chemical adhesives, fabric, and seasoned wood. These materials acted as a fuel source, allowing the fire to spread with alarming speed. As a precautionary measure, Kolkata Police and disaster management teams evacuated workers from the unit and moved residents from surrounding buildings to safer zones. The dense smoke reportedly caused breathing difficulties for several locals, though no serious health complications were reported.

By late evening, officials confirmed that while the fire was brought under control, the cooling process would continue through the night to prevent any hidden pockets of fire from reigniting. Fortunately, no casualties or major injuries were reported at the time of filing this report. Preliminary investigations suggest a possible short circuit as the cause of the blaze, though a formal forensic examination is expected to be conducted tomorrow to determine the exact origin.

This incident marks the second major fire in Kolkata’s furniture hubs this week, following a similar blaze in the Bowbazar area just days ago. The recurring accidents have prompted local civic authorities to call for a stricter audit of fire safety norms in congested manufacturing pockets where industrial units operate in close proximity to residential quarters.