Kolkata: A fire broke out on the second floor of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in the early hours of Tuesday, prompting a rapid response from airport staff and nearby fire stations, officials said.
Swift firefighting, no disruption to flights
Airport personnel said the blaze was first noticed at about 4 am when security guards and other duty staff observed flames and black smoke emerging from a portion of the ATC building. Engines from the fire station adjacent to the airport reached the site immediately and were followed by several more fire tenders.
Firefighters brought the fire under control within a short time and carried out cooling operations to ensure there was no recurrence from residual pocket flames, an airport official said. Authorities reported that flight operations remained unaffected throughout the incident and there was no major damage to ATC infrastructure.
"The fire was mostly confined to an open area. There has been no major disruption of work or damage to ATC. There was no need to evacuate the entire building," an airport official said.
Initial assessment and probe
Fire personnel suspect the origin may be linked to recent decorative work on the second floor carried out around Independence Day, when small lighting elements were installed. Investigators are examining whether the lights being left on for extended periods or a short circuit in weakened wiring triggered the blaze. A formal probe has been opened to rule out other electrical or mechanical causes.
Officials emphasised that because the ATC is a sensitive and critical part of airport operations they took no risks in the response, which included mobilisation of multiple fire engines and targeted cooling measures after extinguishing the main flames.
Local context and implications
The NSCBI Airport is the primary international gateway for Kolkata and the wider eastern region. While the episode ended without disruption to air traffic, the incident underlines the operational sensitivity of control towers and ancillary high-rise structures at busy airports. Any damage to ATC equipment or sustained outage would have immediate consequences for flight safety and scheduling, so rapid containment was crucial.
- Location: Second floor, ATC building, NSCBI Airport, Kolkata
- Time noticed: Around 4 am
- Immediate impact: Fire contained quickly; flight operations unaffected
- Preliminary cause under probe: Possible decorative-lighting short circuit or prolonged use
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| ~4:00 am | Flames and smoke detected by duty staff |
| Shortly after | Fire station engines adjacent to airport arrived; firefighting began |
| Within a short time | Fire brought under control; cooling operations carried out |
Airport and fire officials said an investigation is ongoing to establish the exact cause. They added that preliminary checks will focus on recent decoration works and electrical fittings on the affected floor but will also examine other potential electrical or mechanical faults.
Passengers and airlines operating from Kolkata were not reported to have faced delays as a result of the incident. The quick containment reassured travellers and staff at the busy airport in Salt Lake and Dum Dum areas of the city, though authorities said they will review safety measures for temporary fittings and decorative installations in sensitive areas of airport premises.
Further official updates are expected once the probe concludes and technical teams complete an assessment of any collateral damage to ATC systems or building fabric.
