A Day of Panic and Chaos
On a seemingly ordinary Friday afternoon, the Acropolis Mall in South Kolkata transformed into a scene of panic and chaos as a fire broke out on its third floor. The incident, which occurred around noon, was the second such incident to strike the city within a week, following a similar fire on Camac Street. The events that unfolded revealed significant flaws in the emergency preparedness and safety measures of the mall, leading to a harrowing experience for hundreds of people trapped inside.
The Alarming Start
The day began like any other for Biswajit Dutta, an executive at Ssoftoons Animation, which occupies the sixth floor of the Acropolis Mall. At around noon, a loud siren echoed through the building. Initially, many, including Dutta, thought it was a routine fire drill. However, the urgency in the voice over the public address system soon made it clear that this was not a drill. The message was unequivocal: everyone needed to evacuate the building immediately.
The Struggle to Escape
Dutta, along with his colleagues, headed for the emergency exit. The situation quickly deteriorated as the sole accessible stairway became congested with hundreds of people, all trying to flee the building. “It took me over 20 minutes to come out,” Dutta recalled, describing how he had to squeeze his way through a dark, cluttered emergency stairway filled with smoke and debris. The building has two emergency stairway exits, but one was blocked from the fifth floor, forcing everyone to use the other one, which led to severe bottlenecks and heightened the sense of panic.
A Dark, Smoky Descent
The descent was perilous. “It was dark and smoky. There were hundreds of people — men and women — in the staircase, all trying to rush out. We all were stuck. If someone pushed, it triggered commotion and further delay. I almost tripped several times,” Dutta recounted. The fire department later confirmed that access to the blocked stairway was denied because it was too close to the fire’s origin, and allowing people to use it could have been disastrous.
The Scene Inside the Mall
Earlier in the day, a small group of people was watching a movie at Cinepolis, the mall’s multiplex. Around noon, they noticed Cinepolis employees moving through the hall, quietly informing patrons about the fire. Initially, many thought it was part of a drill, but when the movie was abruptly stop and the lights turn on, the gravity of the situation became apparent. The audience was herd through the stairs at the back, joining the growing throng of evacuees from the mall.
The Source and Spread of the Fire
The fire is believe to have start in the food court on the third floor and quickly spread to the bookstore overhead, sending thick smoke billowing through the mall. The smoke, visible from outside, caused immediate concern among onlookers and mall employees alike. Fire tenders arrived promptly, and firemen smashed glass facades to let out the smoke and gain access to the fire. Despite the dramatic scenes, there were no casualties, thanks to the swift evacuation.
Eyewitness Accounts
Many eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people hurried down staircases partially blocked with waste and discarded materials from ongoing renovations. Some stumbled, hitting their legs against sacks and other obstacles. “Alarms often ring during drills. Most of us ignored the first alarm. It was the chaos and screaming of people that alerted us about the fire around noon,” said Mainak Chowdhury, who works at a clothing retail store on the second floor.
The Evacuation Efforts
Hundreds of people braved the heat and smoke to escape unscathed. Some were seen making anxious phone calls to family and friends once they were safely outside. A few individuals, including one who was carry out on a stretcher. Required assistance due to the overwhelming smoke and heat. Krishna Jha, the senior operations manager of Acropolis Mall, confirm that the entire building was evacuate and that an internal investigation would be conduct.
The Firefighting Operation
Fifteen fire tenders were deploy to combat the blaze. Firemen used a smoke extractor machine to clear the fumes and a hydraulic ladder to reach higher floors. By the time the fire was brought under control, the mall’s facade was left with gaping holes and shattered glass. A preliminary inspection suggested that sparks from an electrical renovation in the food court ceiling might have caused the fire. A forensic report is await to determine the exact cause.
Official Responses and Future Measures
Fire Minister Sujit Bose and Civil Defence and Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan were present at the site during the firefighting efforts. Bose announce that an inquiry will be conduct and assure that appropriate action will be taken if any negligence was found. The incident has raised serious questions about the safety protocols and emergency preparedness of high-rise buildings in Kolkata.
Reflections and Concerns
The Kolkata mall fire has underscore the importance of effective emergency response systems and the need for regular safety drills that are taken seriously by both employees and visitors. The fact that many people initially ignored the fire alarm. Mistaking it for a drill, highlights a dangerous complacency that can have dire consequences in real emergencies.
Mall employee Munna Lal Agarwal, who owns the Simbaa Playzone on the fourth floor. Expressed relief that the fire occurred on a relatively quiet Friday afternoon rather than a busy weekend. “On Sundays, the arena has about 50 children and their parents at any point of time.” He noted, acknowledging that the situation could have been much worse.
Moving Forward
As Kolkata Mall Fire recovers from this latest incident, there is a renewed call for stringent safety measures and regular inspections to prevent such occurrences in the future. The Acropolis Mall management has promised to enhance their safety protocols and ensure that all emergency exits remain accessible at all times.
The Kolkata mall fire serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking in our everyday environments. It emphasizes the need for vigilance, preparedness, and a collective effort to ensure safety in public spaces. The lessons learned from this incident will hopefully lead to better safety practices and prevent such harrowing experiences in the future.
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