Calcutta, Sept 3: Fire devastated part of the Ananda Bazar Patrika building in the heart of the city, reducing to ashes the reporting and editorial departments of the 76-year-old Bengali daily. The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, was brought under control after ten hours.Police sources said one person died and four were injured in the blaze.
The circulation, administration, marketing and accounts departments were also destroyed. The priceless ABP library one floor below was partly damaged by the fire and the fire-fighting efforts by 35 fire tenders.
Around 3.30 pm, ABP's vice-president (technical) Apurba Sengupta told reporters just outside the building that the flame has been brought under control. However, he could neither confirm any reports of casualities nor the amount of loss that has taken place.
However, the fire did not affect the editorial department of The Telegraph, the English daily of the group, which is housed on the 1st floor, or the magazines like Business World,Sananda, Desh, Anandamela and Anandalok.
Sengupta said that they are trying to bring out the Saturday editions of Ananda Bazar Patrika and The Telegraph.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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