kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata, June 19, 2025 –The aftermath of the devastating fire that gutted around 700 shops at Kidderpore’s historic Orphanganj Market, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has stepped in with much-needed first aid. On Wednesday, KMC officials began distributing ₹10,000 relief cheques to each affected stall owner, ahead of a comprehensive damage assessment that will determine the full compensation package .

The fire, which erupted shortly after 1 a.m. on Monday, ravaged a market that has stood for nearly 150 years, leaving behind smoldering debris and hundreds of devastated businesses .

within KMC confirmed that every shop owner — regardless of whether their stall was completely destroyed or only partially damaged — received ₹10,000 as an initial relief. This move aims to provide immediate financial respite, acknowledging that many traders lost their entire livelihood overnight .

Ahead of this distribution, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured traders that full compensation would be granted: ₹1 lakh for wholly destroyed stalls, and ₹50,000 for those partially damaged.

KMC officials and the Borough IX chairperson, Debalina Biswas, confirmed that a door-to-door survey is now in progress to accurately document the extent of damage across approximately 1,300 stalls. The results of this survey will directly inform the final compensation decisions and aid in organizing temporary relocations for affected traders while the market undergoes phased reconstruction.

Traders have been asked to submit completed applications with relevant documentation by this Saturday. Officials have been actively assisting them with form-filling and verification processes at the site.

Although the inferno was brought under control after over seven hours, ‘pocket fires’ continued to burn on Tuesday, obstructing forensic assessments . A forensic team has visited the site, but work has been stalled and is expected to resume once conditions stabilize.Investigators suspect a short circuit but are also exploring the possibility of deliberate sabotage, given the rapid spread among flammable goods and the fire's timing just after a half‑day close on Sunday .

Scenes at the market remain somber. Smoke still rises from charred wooden stalls as firefighters continue cooling operations. Traders like Ashok Kumar Singh and Jhantu Bagh recounted how their entire stock and essential documents were destroyed.

“We lost everything in one night,” Bagh said, adding that "any help at this moment will ease things a bit." The early ₹10,000 relief, he noted, would help manage immediate family needs as they await final compensation.

The KMC has begun identifying alternative markets and adjacent plots that could temporarily host displaced traders during full restoration. This phased rehabilitation plan involves relocating stalls, stabilizing structures, and rebuilding the market in sections — all while minimizing further disruption to commerce .

The ₹10,000 interim payment signifies a proactive first step by civic authorities. However, the efficacy of relief will truly depend on completing the damage survey quickly and delivering full compensation without bureaucratic delays. As Kolkata’s traders reel from heavy losses, swift action on pending aid, infrastructure recovery, and forensic findings will be crucial in restoring both their livelihoods and trust.