NEW DELHI, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and over 200 shops gutted Monday in a major fire incident in India's eastern state of West Bengal, police said.
The fire broke out around 2:00 a.m. local time in Gorabazar market in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.
"The fire spread quickly in the market as several inflammable objects were stored there," a police official said. "We have recovered two bodies from the market and both have been charred."
Authorities have rushed over two dozen fire tenders along with firefighters to contain the blaze.
Officials said it took around 12 hours for firemen to contain the blaze and the operation was going on until last reports poured in.
"The fire has been brought under control and firemen are currently dousing the pocket fires inside the market," a senior official of state fire and emergency services department said. "The fire has caused extensive damage to the market and merchandise worth millions of dollars were gutted."
Preliminary assessment carried out by the officials said over 200 shops have been gutted.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Police have registered a case and ordered investigations.
On Saturday evening, 17 people including 10 women were killed in a massive fire that ripped through a firecracker warehouse in Bawana industrial area in New Delhi, the Indian capital city.
