Kolkata, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A fire broke out on the second floor of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata early Tuesday, triggering panic at the airport before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
According to airport staff, flames were noticed emerging from the second floor at around 4 a.m. The fire quickly spread to a specific section of the building, which was soon filled with black smoke.
Fire engines from the airport's adjoining fire station immediately rushed to the spot and began firefighting operations. Additional fire tenders were also deployed given the sensitive nature of the ATC facility.
The blaze was brought under control within a short time, following which cooling operations were carried out to prevent any flare-up from remaining pockets of fire.
An airport official said the fire was largely confined to an open area and caused no major disruption to operations or significant damage to the ATC facility. The official added that there was no need to evacuate the entire building as firefighters were able to identify and contain the source quickly.
Flight operations remained unaffected and the situation at the airport was reported to be normal after the incident.
An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire. Firefighters are examining the possibility that decorative lighting installed on the second floor during Independence Day-related decoration work may have triggered the blaze.
A short circuit or overheating caused by prolonged use of the decorative lights is among the possibilities being examined. Authorities are also checking for any other electrical or mechanical fault and possible maintenance-related issues.
The investigation is continuing to establish the exact cause of the incident.