Kolkata: The fire and emergency services department has suspended the Pragati Maidan fire station officer following a fire at a Topsia manufacturing unit that claimed two lives on Tuesday. Gautam Das, station officer and in-charge, faces suspension for negligence of duty. Director General (state fire and emergency services) Anuj Sharma issued a notification on Wednesday, pointing to negligence in monitoring, inspection, and enforcement of fire safety laws.
Departmental Investigation Initiated
A departmental investigation has been initiated with instructions that it must be completed within one month. During the suspension period, Das will report at fire department headquarters and will require permission to leave base. An officer stated, "The fire department enforces safety audits. Our job is to complete inspections and give reports against illegal buildings. The probe will review the fire station logs and visits carried out at the affected address to establish the role of Das. We have asked all units to provide a status report on inspections at the headquarters on an urgent basis."
Police Register Criminal Case
Following a signed complaint by witness Sk Shahid, the Tiljala Police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and attempt to commit culpable homicide against the factory management. Cops confirmed that their investigation will be independent of the fire department's probe. A police report noted, "The manufacturing unit was running under the names of Delta Leather Corporation and Liu Ching Yuan Tannery, and was packed with highly combustible raw materials used for manufacturing leather purses and wallets without any clearances from any department."
