Fire in tannery close to hotel, educational park in Kolkata

A major fire broke out in a tannery and spread swiftly to an adjacent slum close to a five star hotel and Science City, an educational park, on the eastern fringes of the metropolis today.

Eighteen fire engines were fighting the blaze which had the possibility of spreading to the Science City where water was being sprayed, fire brigade officials said.

The fire resulted in a massive traffic jam on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass which passes through the Tangra area. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.