Kolkata/IBNS: Chaos and panic ensued when a massive fire broke out on Sunday noon at a shopping shopping mall in Barrackpore engulfing a garment store, a restaurant and a cineplex, media reports said.

The Arsalan food joint and Zudio garment store at Atindra multiplex in Barrackpore were gutted in the fire which is suspected to have started due to some electrical faults in the nearby  transformer.

The fire spread quickly across first and ground floors of Arsalan and Zudio, causing widespread damage. No casualties were reported.

Eye witnesses said there were scenes of pandemonium as staff and shoppers scrambled to evacuate the premises.

“We saw smoke and heavy flames coming from the transformer and electrical connectors, and within minutes, the flames engulfed Arsalan and other nearby places,” said one eye witness.

Several fire engines fought for hours to bring the blaze under control.

“Our priority was to ensure everyone was safely evacuated and minimise the damage caused. The place's sprinkler system also helped contain the fire to some extent,” said a member of the team of firefighters.

The incident has raised concerns about the fire safety measures in public spaces. Many shoppers complained about inadequate emergency exits and a lack of proper guidance during the evacuation.

The Barrackpore Municipality has assured strict action if any violations of fire safety norms are found. 

(Reporting by Anurag Singh)