Two people were killed and three others sustained serious injuries after a fire broke out in the Tiljala area of Kolkata on Tuesday, 12th May. Following the incident, Women and Child welfare minister in West Bengal government Agnimitra Paul visited the spot and stated that the building where the fire broke out was operating illegally without mandatory clearances. Authorities are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. Further investigation into the incident is underway.

“This is completely an illegal building, which has neither been given an NOC nor received a fire license, but the strangest thing is that during the tenure of the previous government, buildings of this kind flourished abundantly. We had seen the incident of the Wow Momos factory in Kasba... Even today, such an incident has happened. Today, 2 people have died in this fire and 3 people are in very serious condition, she said."

Meanwhile, CM Suvendu Adhikari said the state government has ordered a probe into the incident.

“The Chief Secretary has issued orders and a committee comprising four departments has been formed. A report will come at 11 a.m. tomorrow. According to preliminary information, it was an illegal building. The situation is the same across the entire state. This will not continue now. The government will do whatever is necessary legally. Wait and watch. The fact-finding report will come at 11 a.m. tomorrow. An FIR will also be registered. Consider this the first and last such incident.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has directed the Kolkata Police to lodge an FIR into the incident. Further, the state government has constituted a departmental committee to conduct a detailed survey of the site and examine all relevant documents related with the incident.

Among those included in the committee are ACS, MSME Department; ACS, Fire and Emergency Services Department; Kolkata Commissioner of Police; and Municipal Commissioner, Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

“The Committee shall conduct a detailed inquiry/survey and submit a report positively by 11 a.m. on May 13, 2026,” read the order from the Office of the Chief Secretary.

According to reports, the fire erupted on the first floor of the building that was utilised as a leather godown around 1.45 p.m. The flames spread within moments, engulfing the area in thick black smoke.

“Five persons, who were trapped in the building, entered a bathroom to escape the flames, but dense smoke created a suffocating atmosphere inside,” PTI quoted a fire department official as saying.