Raiganj Nov. 8: A devastating fire razed a jute godown, close to Dalkhola station,yesterday.

No casualties were, however, recorded.

Hundreds of people who gathered at the site helplessly watched the godown collapsing like a pack of cards. Witnesses said all efforts of the local youths to douse the flames were rendered useless and the godown was gutted well before the fire brigade could arrive from Raigunj, 50 km from Dalkhola. Fire engines from Islampur, about 100 km away, were also pressed into action.

The residents of Dalkhola organised demonstrations following the incident demanding the building of a fire station at Dalkhola,

“Dalkhola, with its railway junction and NH 34,is fast becoming an important business hub in north Bengal. I wonder why the government has not yet fire station for town any thought. The nearest fire station is situated at Raigunj, about 50 km away. In case of a big fire the people remain as helpless as they were decades ago”, said Jainarayan Somani, general secretary of North Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce.

”A fire station has been a long standing demand, though the leaders have turned a deaf year to our pleas” he said.

“6-cottahs of land has been acquired on the national highway. A proposal has also been sent to the state government for construction of a fire station. The sanction is awaited,” said Ariz Aftab, the district magistrate said.