Kolkata, May 13 : Two people, including building owner Zafar Nishad, were arrested by the police in less than 24 hours after the Tiljala fire incident in the state capital, which claimed two lives.

The police said on Wednesday that the two were arrested from Palm Avenue in South Kolkata.

The state government had formed a high-level investigation committee on Tuesday on the instructions of Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari.

The committee was conducting a detailed survey of the fire site and will submit a report later in the day. The state government also directed Kolkata Police to lodge a specific FIR in the matter immediately. Based on the FIR, the two arrests were made.

On Tuesday, two people were killed, while five others were injured after a fire broke out in a multi-storey building on GJ Khan Road in the Tiljala area of East Kolkata. The injured are undergoing treatment in the hospital with burns. Their condition is said to be critical.

According to locals, the fire broke out on the second floor of a four-storey building at 50/1 GJ Khan Road. The fire spread instantly, and soon, black smoke completely covered the surroundings. As soon as the locals noticed the blaze, the fire department was informed. Four fire engines rushed to the spot one by one.

Meanwhile, the intensity of the fire increased to the point that seven people were trapped in a room on the floor. Some reports said that the seven tried to save themselves from the flames by taking shelter in the washroom. However, they were trapped in a suffocating situation. The fire officials finally rescued them and sent them to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared two dead.

According to the fire department, the two died due to severe respiratory distress. On the other hand, the condition of the five others is also critical.

The police were investigating the incident, but so far it was unclear as to how the fire started. The preliminary report of the fire department is that the blaze may have started due to a short circuit.

/IANS