Overview
- The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at a dye manufacturing unit in Ishwaripur, Khardah, in North 24 Parganas.
- Roughly 20 fire engines responded and firefighters used foam, with officials later saying the blaze was brought under control.
- Explosions were reported and thick black smoke spread as stored chemicals fueled the flames, according to police and residents.
- Three adjacent factories, including a nearby T‑shirt unit, were gutted and nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
- The cause remains under investigation, with residents alleging lax safety checks and some suggesting firecrackers as an unconfirmed trigger.