Around 20 shanties have been utterly gutted in a serious fireplace which broke (*20*) in the town’s Topsia space on Tuesday afternoon, a fireplace division official stated. At least six fireplace tenders have been pressed into service to regulate the blaze, which was first noticed round 3.30pm, he stated.

“No one was injured in the fire. Our officers are trying their best to douse the flames,” the official added.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited the spot.