A major fire broke out in a slum in Topsia, east Kolkata, on Friday afternoon, destroying a significant portion of the settlement, which comprised nearly 150 dwellings. Fifteen fire tenders were at the scene.

A fire broke out around 12:50 pm on Friday, December 20, at a slum on DN Dey Road in Topsia, east Kolkata, adjacent to the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. It destroyed nearly 150 dwellings and shops. Fifteen fire tenders were deployed, and the flames were brought under control at 2:10 pm. No injuries were reported.

Dry winter winds helped spread the fire. Two adjacent canals did not contain the flames during the first two hours. Firefighters faced tightly packed dwellings, reportedly containing inflammable articles, and congestion that delayed access and forced vehicles to take detours. Residents helped fight the blaze; people were evacuated from a nearby high-rise. State disaster management personnel assisted with rescue and recovery.

Repeated rain linked to a low-pressure system flooded Kolkata roads on Thursday, disrupting peak-hour traffic. A second spell lasted about 30 minutes. Waterlogging affected Chittaranjan Avenue (Shyambazar–Dharmatala), MG Road, BT Road, Kashipur Road, Thantania, Ballygunge Place, Park Circus Connector, Topsia More, Ruby More–Anandapur, Ekbalpore, Justice Dwarkanath Road, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road and Elgin Road in Ward 70. Amherst Street near Thantania Kalibari was also flooded; pedestrians struggled to cross roads.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation drainage department rainfall figures, early morning to evening: Jodhpur Park 115 mm; Topsia 105 mm; Pagladanga near Dhapa 98 mm; Palmar Bazar 95 mm; Thantania 95.2 mm; Ballygunge 89 mm; Kalighat 79 mm; Maniktala 77 mm; Marcus Square 74 mm; Behala Flying Club 70 mm.

Water receded in most areas, but remained accumulated where pumping-station construction was under way at Thantania and Northern Park, Bhawanipur. High tides keep Hooghly lock gates closed until the tide recedes. Permanent and temporary pumps operated in low-lying areas. Civic health officials said dengue cases were rising, warned that risk generally lasts until November, and urged residents to prevent stagnant clean water where Aedes aegypti larvae breed.

More than 10 petitions affecting over 150 people in Topsia and Kasba were filed before the Calcutta High Court’s vacation bench over demolition notices issued by Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The cases are scheduled for Friday. On Tuesday, Justice Partha Sarathi Sen granted leave to file the petitions; Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul) will hear them. Firdous Shamim mentioned five petitions concerning premises in Topsia and Kasba, while Md Zafaryab Jilani mentioned eight to nine. Some petitions concern a Topsia apartment with 13 blocks and about 20–30 flats per block. Petitioners allege a notice under Section 400(1) was pasted on a wall rather than served individually to flat owners. A recent buyer of a flat on G J Khan Road said a Section 400(1) notice was issued in two other people’s names; he had not yet mutated ownership and sought notice in his own name and an opportunity to be heard.