Fire at food plaza outside Sealdah station creates panic
A fire broke out at a food plaza near Sealdah station in India on Monday morning, causing panic among passengers. Officials suspect a short circuit in an air conditioning unit, and while the fire was brought under control, the plaza's fire extinguishers were found to be dysfunctional.
Why it matters
Highlights critical safety and maintenance failures in high-traffic public transit infrastructure.
A massive fire broke out at a food plaza outside the Sealdah station (South section) caused a severe panic among the passengers on Monday (August 31, 2026).
Officials said that the fire sparked at around 6 a.m. at the large food court that houses multiple eateries. The entire area was immediately covered by hick black smoke.
The situation caused extreme panic among the passengers as the plaza was right at the entrance of the south section of the station. The auto and taxi stand are also located close to the other end of the plaza.
"Prima facie, it appears to have been caused due to a short circuit from an air conditioning machine. However, the fact is yet to be ascertained," said an officer.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in