The fire occurred near a private hospital in New Alipore, in the southwestern part of the city. Sixteen fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze and prevent its spread.
Personnel from the New Alipore Army camp joined fire brigade officials in firefighting efforts. As of late evening, fire tenders continued working to fully extinguish the flames, which persisted in some pockets.
The affected shanties were located on railway land beside the New Alipore road overbridge. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations to follow. Mayor Hakim expressed concern over recurring fire incidents in slum areas.
Congress state president Subhankar Sarkar visited the site and emphasized the plight of the poor who are disproportionately affected by such incidents. A day earlier, several shanties were gutted in a fire in Topsia, another Kolkata locality.
The frequent fires have raised alarm about the safety and living conditions of slum dwellers in the city.
