Kalimpong, June 21:

A devastating fire raged through the main market square of kalimpong town in West Bengal.The fire broke out at around 11p.m at thursday night  thana dara opposite to kalimpong post office . According to a local resident the fire started from a wooden residence with a tea shop of raju rai, which soon caught the attached neighbor house of Hamal kumar Bhujel whose two shops were also gutted in the fire.Hamal runs a small sweet shops and a xerox cum stationary shop. With the area densely populated with wooden shops without any gaps, in no time the fire spread caught hold of a fruit shop of sanjay shah and a dhaba of dulal mondal both shops located beside raju rai residence and shop.With the help of policemen,local and the 3 fire engines  the fire was under control under a almost under a hour but until everything was finished ."The cause of the fire has not been ascertained. Prima facie it could be from a short circuit" stated a fire officer.Though estimates have not been made of the loss, it would be to the tune of above Rs. 25 lakhs according to a source .Today Deputy Magistrate Hirak Roy and GTA councilor of the region Sunil Pradhan  visited the spot and assured all possible help to the victim.