Fire rages at the market complex in Siliguri on Sunday night. Twenty-seven shops were gutted in the mishap. A Telegraph picture

Siliguri, March 3: A market complex was gutted in fire at Pareshnagar here last night.

The blaze was doused after three hours of effort by the Siliguri fire brigade. Preliminary investigation suggests that a short circuit caused the tragedy. Bhaktinagar police and fire brigade officials said there were no casualties.

“The fire broke out around 1.30 am and our members immediately informed the fire officials, who reached the spot around 2am,” said Jagadish Baroi, the secretary of Pareshnagar Mini Market Byabsayee Samity.

“Twenty-seven establishments, including grocery, jewellery and tailor shops, and printing press, were completely destroyed in the fire and the loss is estimated to be more than Rs 50 lakh,” said Baroi.

A fire official said the operation started at 2am and they could extinguish the blaze by 5am with the help of four fire engines. All the shops gutted had roofs made of wood.

Angod Mullick, a printing press owner, said in the morning, he saw a heap of ashes where his shop had stood. The market is located along Sevoke Road in Ward 44 of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

The traders have sough compensation from the corporation for starting the business again.

Munshi Nurul Islam, the deputy mayor of the civic body, who visited the spot with Dilip Singh, the chairman of SMC, said they had discussed the issue of compensation with the traders.

“We have asked them to apply for the compensation and then we will work it out,” said Islam.