WBFES Orders Temporary Closure of Priya Cinema

Kolkata: The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services (WBFES) has ordered a temporary closure of Priya Cinema until completion of investigation regarding the fire that broke out in the theatre last night. Priya Cinema is one of the most prominent single-screen theatres in eastern India.

Senior WBFES officials, including its director general Jag Mohan, inspected the south Kolkata theatre today. They were accompanied by a team of forensic experts from Kolkata Police.

Jag Mohan told the media that they have ordered a temporary closure of the hall. Operations may resume only after they examine the forensic report and get a no-objection from Kolkata Police and the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC). The forensic team has collected samples from the hall and other parts of the building, Jag Mohan informed, adding that a decision on reopening the theatre will be taken after consultation with all relevant authorities.

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Priya Cinema owner Arijit Dutta, however, told the media that they are trying to resume operations tonight itself since the hall didn’t suffer any damage in the fire. He claimed that the theatre was granted a clearance by the fire department in May and they have observed all the safety guidelines in this regard.

Prima facie investigations suggest that a probable short circuit may have caused the fire in the theatre at around 10.30pm yesterday.