Fire Breaks Out at Kolkata Airport

A fire broke out at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, creating panic among passengers and airport staff. The incident occurred at a time when prominent industrialists were arriving in the city for the Bengal Global Business Summit.

According to airport sources the fire started near a conveyor belt during welding work. Sparks from the welding reportedly ignited a flex material leading to a sudden blaze. The fire triggered widespread panic, but quick action by airport staff brought the situation under control within minutes.

However the timing of the incident has raised concerns, as security was already heightened due to the arrival of several business leaders and foreign delegates for the high-profile summit.

Bengal Global Business Summit Begins

The 8th edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit organised by the West Bengal government is set to begin on Wednesday at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, Kolkata.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that this year’s summit would witness participation from 40 countries and over 200 international delegates. Industrial giants like Mukesh Ambani and Sajjan Jindal are expected to attend along with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Given the large-scale event Kolkata airport had already implemented additional security measures. Despite this the fire incident has raised safety concerns among authorities.

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Previous Fire Incidents at Kolkata Airport

This is not the first time a fire has disrupted operations at Kolkata Airport.

- June 2023: A sudden fire broke out at a busy terminal, forcing the cancellation of eight flights. The fire was linked to a storeroom near Check-in Counter 16, where large amounts of paper were stored, fuelling the blaze.

- October 2017: A fuel truck caught fire in the old apron area of Dum Dum Airport early in the morning. The fire department quickly controlled the situation.

Additionally just four months ago a bomb scare led to an emergency shutdown of the airport. A threat message claimed that explosives were planted at the airport, leading to the emergency landing of seven flights. Later, it was found to be a hoax.

While authorities are investigating the cause of today’s fire, no serious damage or casualties have been reported.