Kolkata crackdown: Six Park Street restaurants shut after Mamata Banerjee terms Magma House a ‘tinderbox’
Kolkata crackdown: Six popular restaurants inside Magma House on Kolkata’s Park Street were shut down on Wednesday following a surprise inspection by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who flagged serious fire safety violations in the building.
The visit came just two days after a major fire at the Rituraj Hotel in Burrabazar claimed 15 lives, prompting heightened scrutiny of commercial properties across the city.
During her visit to 24 Park Street, the Chief Minister described Magma House as a “tinderbox,” citing its narrow staircases, limited exits, and hazardous fire layout as major risks. She also raised concerns over the storage of LPG cylinders in restaurant kitchens within the building, which she said posed an immediate fire hazard.
Kolkata crackdown: Following the inspection, Kolkata Police confiscated gas cylinders from the premises, leading to the shutdown of six restaurants: LMNOQ, Barbeque Nation, Black Cat, Moti Mahal, Destination 16, and one other yet to be named officially.
In response to the situation, Banerjee directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor, and the State Fire Minister to launch an urgent joint investigation. “Public safety cannot be compromised, especially in high-density public spaces,” she said, underlining the need for stricter enforcement.
The action at Magma House comes amid growing public concern and institutional pressure to address fire code violations in the wake of the Burrabazar tragedy. Authorities are now expected to conduct wider inspections at commercial and hospitality establishments across the city.
