What is the main fire risk around Kolkata's places of worship?

The main fire risk stems from illegal encroachments like stalls, sheds, and unregulated structures that block access for emergency services.

How does encroachment affect heritage sites like the Ezra Street agiary?

Encroachments create bottlenecks and fire hazards, making it difficult for firefighters to reach and combat blazes at heritage sites.

Are religious sites in Burrabazar also affected by encroachment?

Yes, temples and gurdwaras in Burrabazar face similar issues, with structures and parked vehicles surrounding them.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Kolkata's Heritage Choked by Encroachments, Fire Risk Grows

Kolkata's Heritage Choked by Encroachments, Fire Risk Grows

24 Nov

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Summary

Illegal encroachments surround Kolkata's places of worship, risking fire safety.
Firefighters struggled to reach Ezra Street agiary due to blocked access.
Hawkers and haphazard parking plague heritage structures across central Kolkata.

Kolkata's Heritage Choked by Encroachments, Fire Risk Grows

Kolkata's sacred spaces are increasingly threatened by illegal encroachments, a problem starkly highlighted by a recent inferno on Ezra Street. This fire not only destroyed property and a historic 186-year-old agiary but also exposed the chronic civic issue of unchecked construction and hawker stalls surrounding places of worship and heritage buildings.

From Brabourne Road to Burrabazar, revered sites like the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary and Nakhoda Mosque are now entangled in a web of makeshift stalls, haphazard parking, and packed godowns. Firefighting efforts at the Ezra Street agiary were severely hampered by these obstructions, including overhead wires and illegally parked vehicles, revealing a long-ignored danger.