KOLKATA, INDIA – A fire broke out at an illegal six-story plastics market in Kolkata early Wednesday morning, killing at least 19 people, Indian police said.
The blaze, which started before 4 a.m., was likely caused by a short circuit, said West Bengal fire minister Jived Khan. The fire was under control by midmorning, he said, but toxic gases being released by the blaze were hampering rescue efforts.
A police official said at least 19 people had died. He said officers were looking for the owner of the building, which was filled with dozens of small shops selling various plastic products. At least 11 people were hospitalized in critical condition and the death toll was expected to rise.
Khan called the scene of the fire “an illegal, unauthorized market.” However, local residents said the market had been operating in the building for nearly 40 years.