The residents of Kankurgachhi in Kolkata are struggling to come to terms with the aftermath of a terrifying blaze that erupted at a medical oxygen cylinder storage facility on Maniktala Main Road. The incident, which occurred early on Thursday, triggered a series of loud explosions that reverberated across the city, from Salt Lake to College Street, leaving a trail of destruction, fear, and trauma in its wake.
Night of Terror and Widespread Damage
The explosions were so powerful that they jolted people awake in central Kolkata, Ultadanga, and Sealdah. The source was a warehouse storing oxygen cylinders, reportedly without any basic fire safety measures. Witnesses described a horrifying scene where the cylinders exploded one after another. The blast impact was severe on at least six buildings and complexes in this real estate hotspot, where property values can exceed Rs 1.5 crore.
Window panes were blown out, doors and glass panels shattered, and structural damage like cracks on pillars and collapsing cornices was reported. Buildings such as Krishna Kunj and Shree Vihar bore the brunt of the force. "From window panes to glass panels on wardrobes, everything is shattered. It is risky to stay here till the place is cleaned," said Ashok Daga, a third-floor resident of Krishna Kunj, which overlooks the gutted warehouse.
Residents Flee Homes Amid Health and Safety Fears
Over 24 hours after the blast, many families from nearby complexes and high-rises found it difficult to return. The combination of damaged buildings, polluted air, and lingering shock kept them away. The realization that a hazardous commercial unit was operating illegally in their midst compounded their fear, especially for the safety of children.
Tanishka Gupta, a resident living barely 25 meters from the warehouse, stated, "We are staying elsewhere now as the air was heavy with pollution and it was unsafe for our health." While her family returned briefly on Friday to clean up, others chose to stay away. Kaushik Mukherjee, a resident of the same complex, revealed, "Families, kids are in a state of shock. We will stay at a relative's place in New Town for a few days." The trauma was profound for some, with one resident noting their young child had not stopped crying, forcing the family to shift to a relative's home in Girish Park.
Call for Accountability and Enforcement Failure
The incident has exposed a critical failure in local enforcement. Residents pointed out that the Maniktala-Kankurgachhi belt is dotted with illegal warehouses and manufacturing units. The secretary of a local residents' association directly called it "a failure of enforcement," highlighting the persistent danger posed by such unauthorized and unsafe establishments operating in densely populated residential areas.
As the community grapples with the physical and psychological damage, the focus has sharply turned to the authorities. The need for stringent action against illegal storage facilities and rigorous implementation of fire safety norms has become the urgent demand from the traumatized residents of Kankurgachhi.
