- Write a report for the newspaper based on the information given below
Incident: 23rd Calcutta Book Fair completely gutted.
Place: Maidan, near Park Street.
Date and time: 3rd February 1997 at 3-30 p.m.
Casualties: One died, probably of shock; six were injured in the stampede.
Probable cause and result: Burning stove overturned inside a food stall, fire spread rapidly, gusty wind fanned the fire, fire fighting system inadequate, total loss estimated at Rs. 12 crore, booksellers hard hit.
Steps taken: An inquiry committee set up by the Govt., Fair to be restarted on and from next Friday.
Kolkata, February 3, 1997: The 23rd Kolkata Book Fair was reduced to ashes in a devastating fire this afternoon.
Mr. Jiten Sil, aged 65, a visitor, sustained head injuries and later died, while eight others were injured. The blaze, which reportedly broke out from a food stall at about 3-25 p.m. rapidly engulfed other stalls in less than an hour. Thousands of visitors had a providential escape.
Much before the organizers raised an alarm, visitors noticed the fire around 3-25 p.m. But before they could make an exit, the flames started destroying the stalls. Some of the gates were shut and they had to scale the wooden fencings. The State Home Minister, Mr. Buddhadev Bhattacharji, announced that the fair would reopen on Friday and the State Government would erect new structures at its own expense.
The fair would be extended by three days. Mr. Bhattacharjee said that a high-level inquiry would be conducted by the State Home Department. After thorough detection it was found that a burning stove overturned inside a food stall, the fire spread rapidly, and gusty wind fanned the fire. The fire-fighting system was inadequate at the Book Fair, The organizers estimated the loss to be about Rs. 12 crore.
