A fire ravaged five adjacent godowns on Taratala Road and the flames had not been doused till late on Saturday. At least 22 fire tenders were at work when reports last came in. Police said no one was injured.
The place owned by the Port Trust has rows of godowns one after another. Port Trust officials told cops that the property had been let out on rent and it was the onus of the godown owner to ensure all fire-fighting measures were in place.
As flames spread, the area was filled with thick smoke. The police had to stop traffic on Taratala Road to facilitate firefighting.
Garden Reach-bound vehicles were diverted down Kidderpore and Behala, resulting in traffic congestion for sometime on Diamond Harbour Road.
Fire officials said the godowns lacked basic fire preparedness.
Witnesses said the godown was stacked with inflammable articles including gas cylinders and electrical equipment some of which kept bursting with deafening sound as the temperature inside continued to rise.
Lorries and other big vehicles that were parked on the road were moved and the firefighters brought in hydraulic lifts as the fire spread from one godown to another, engulfing at least five warehouses within a few hours.
"The wind that blew from the south contributed to the spread of the fire. The ambient heat was so high that it became difficult to access the seats of fire," said a senior fire department official. "The rains weren't of as much help as we had expected because these godowns were stacked with inflammable articles."
Sujit Bose, the minister in charge of fire and emergency services, said a probe would be conducted to find out whether the godown owner had taken necessary fire clearances.
Fire department officials said forensic experts would be visiting the spot on Sunday and collecting samples to find out the cause of the fire. The area has been sealed off and a police picket has been placed.
