Kolkata — 31 August 2026
A fire broke out at a Rail Coach Restaurant located outside Sealdah Railway Station away from the station building at around 9:15 AM today. The situation was immediately brought to the notice of the Divisional authorities, who took prompt safety measures and cordoned off the affected area to safeguard commuters.
The Fire Brigade reached the spot at around 9:24 AM and immediately started fire-fighting operations. With coordinated efforts, the fire was successfully brought under control by around 10:00 AM and completely extinguished by 10:45 AM.
The incident did not cause any disruption to passenger movement or train operations, as the restaurant was located away from the main station building. There was also no panic among passengers, and normal movement at Sealdah station continued throughout the incident. No injuries or casualties have been reported.
Sealdah station is equipped with an automatic fire suppression system for the station premises only. However, the station’s automatic fire suppression system does not cover the restaurant area, as it was the responsibility of the licensee. However, as required by the Fire Services, water was supplied in adequate quantity from the station’s water hydrant system by manually operating the pumps to support the fire-fighting operation.
As per the prima facie assessment, the cooking oil in the “Frying Pan” appears to have caught fire due to overheating, possibly because of a higher temperature setting. The flames subsequently rose towards the ceiling, causing the duct and ceiling insulation to catch fire. As the restaurant is an enclosed space, huge smoke also accumulated inside the premises.
The license has been suspended with immediate effect until completion of the inquiry. A detailed inquiry has been initiated to establish the exact cause of the incident and assess responsibility. If any lapse or negligence on the part of the licensee is established during the inquiry, strict action will be taken by the Division as per the applicable rules.
The swift response of the Fire Services and the prompt coordination by railway personnel ensured that the situation was brought under control without affecting passenger safety, passenger movement or train operations.
