Zeack News

Kolkata, Mar.23 A massive fire swept through a 150-year-old multi-storeyed heritage building housing offices and residences in Kolkata's busy Park Street today leaving at least six dead and 20 injured.

The fire which broke out at the six-storeyed Stephen Court building at 2.15 pm was brought under control in the night after the firemen battled hard to rescue trapped people.

The Stephen Court, located in the heart of the city, houses the iconic 100-year-old Flury?s confectionery house Peter Cat restaurant and a large music store called Music World and several other offices.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire may have started from a lift between the fifth and the sixth floors as a result of a short circuit and soon spread upwards and sideways, forcing people to move out of the windows to precariously perch themselves on narrow parapets and ledges waiting for help.

Kolkata, Mar 23 (PTI) About 400 sports-persons from Bangladesh and West Bengal will be seen in action in the 3rd Sahara Indo-Bangla Games beginning here on Thursday.

Union Sports Minister M S Gill, however, will formally inaugurate the three-day event at the Netaji Indoor Stadium tomorrow.

Bengal Olympic Association president Paresh Mukherjee said about 200 sports persons and officials from Bangladesh have reached the city to take part in 10 disciplines.

Participants will compete in athletics, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, judo, kho-kho, shooting, kabaddi, swimming and football.

Football would be only for women, Mukherjee said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has wished the game all success and added that sports events like this make the bond between the two countries stronger, he said.

Singh's Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina too expressed similar views, said Bangladesh Olympic Association secretary Qurubuddin Ahmed.