Siliguri, Aug. 12 (ANI): A shopping complex in Siliguri was gutted after being engulfed by a major fire on Wednesday.

The fire broke out around 9.45 in the morning at Marda Shopping Complex.

Tapan Ghosh, Divisional Fire Officer in Siliguri said that though it was a major fire, the fire fighters managed to control the flames from spreading to nearby cluster of slums.

"The fire was of large scale. We managed to control the fire from spreading to nearby slum colony where there are several huts. Six of our fire engines are deployed here and the fire now is under control," said Tapan Ghosh, Divisional Fire Officer, Siliguri.

Mukhtar Ahmed, the manager of a showroom in the shopping complex said that fire occurred when a sweeper who had gone for cleaning turned on the light.

"Around 9.45 a.m, we were informed that a sweeper who had gone inside for cleaning witnessed a blast when he switched on the light which led to fire. We tried to control the flames by fire extinguishers but failed. So we called the fire brigade to douse the fire," said Mukhtar Ahmed, Manager of a showroom in Marda Shopping Complex.

Officials said that the shopping complex had remained closed for nearly a year as such the estimated losses could not be ascertained.

However, eyewitnesses were of the view that goods worth millions of rupees must have been destroyed.

No casualties were reported from the fire. (ANI)