The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Directorate has ordered the immediate evacuation of parts of a commercial building on Camac Street in Kolkata due to safety violations. The order follows the expiry of the fire safety certificate and failure to address official warnings, impacting floors that house the office of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
On September 4, 2026, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Directorate issued a formal directive ordering the immediate evacuation of the basement, sixth, and seventh floors of a commercial building located at 9 Abanindranath Tagore Sarani on Camac Street, Kolkata. The decision was driven by critical fire safety concerns and the lack of a valid Fire Safety Certificate for the premises.
Authorities confirmed that the building’s safety certificate expired on August 10, 2026, and had not been renewed. During subsequent inspections, the fire department identified multiple safety lapses that posed risks to the occupants. These violations included inadequate firefighting infrastructure, blocked emergency access routes, faulty fire alarm systems, and the unauthorized storage of LPG cylinders in the basement. These findings were communicated to the building owner through a show-cause notice issued between September 1 and September 2, 2026. According to the department, the owner failed to provide a timely or satisfactory response to address these deficiencies, leading to the enforcement of the evacuation order.
Under the provisions of the West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950, property owners are legally responsible for maintaining valid safety certifications and ensuring that commercial buildings meet mandatory fire prevention standards. The fire department has invoked these powers to mandate the shutdown of the identified floors until the safety lapses are fully rectified and a new certificate is secured. The order requires the immediate cessation of operations in the affected zones to prevent any potential fire-related hazards.
This administrative action follows a reported security breach at the same location on September 3, 2026, involving an incident of vandalism. The local administration and the fire department have coordinated with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and local law enforcement to ensure strict compliance with the evacuation directive. Utility providers, including power suppliers, have also been notified to assist in the enforcement of the order. The affected floors will remain closed until the building management completes the necessary safety upgrades and receives formal clearance from the fire services authorities.