Pre-Dawn Blaze in Balurghat Destroys 6 to 7 Shops Along Highway

Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat

A devastating fire swept through a row of roadside shops in the early hours of Thursday morning, reducing six to seven establishments to ashes and sending plumes of smoke into the predawn sky in Balurgha.

According to witnesses, the blaze erupted around 3 a.m. near the Bridge Kali area along National Highway 512. By the time local residents noticed the flames, the fire had already engulfed multiple storefronts.

Three fire engines rushed to the scene and battled the inferno for hours in an effort to bring it under control. Local residents said the affected businesses included a wooden furniture shop, a steel goods store and several other retail outlets.Preliminary assessments suggest that the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit or by combustible materials stored inside the furniture shop, though authorities said a full investigation is underway.

Officers from the Balurghat Police Station were present at the scene, along with personnel from the state electricity department. No casualties have been reported so far, but shop owners face significant financial losses as the charred remains of their businesses continue to smolder.Officials said further details would emerge after a thorough inspection of the site.