Fire Erupts at Kolkata Airport, Prompt Response Prevents Major Disruption

A fire broke out at Kolkata's NSCBI Airport early Tuesday, causing panic but was swiftly controlled by firefighters. The incident occurred on the second floor of the Air Traffic Control building, with no disruption to flight operations. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, with initial suspicions pointing to decorative lights installed for Independence Day. Read on for more details about this incident and the response efforts.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 18, 2026, 13:35 IST

Fire Incident at NSCBI Airport

Photo: @ians_india/X

Kolkata, Aug 18: A fire incident early Tuesday morning created significant alarm at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata.

Reports indicate that the blaze ignited on the second floor of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building. Fortunately, thanks to the prompt actions of firefighters and airport personnel, the flames were swiftly contained. Flight operations continued without interruption, and the situation has since returned to normal.

According to airport staff, security personnel and other employees on duty noticed flames emerging from the ATC building's second floor around 4 a.m.

Within moments, the fire began to spread to a specific section of the building, filling the area with thick black smoke.

Upon receiving the alert, fire engines stationed near the airport quickly responded to the scene. Firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the flames. Given the ATC building's critical role at the airport, additional fire engines were dispatched to ensure complete control of the situation. The fire was successfully extinguished in a short time, followed by cooling efforts to prevent any resurgence.

An airport representative stated, "The fire was largely contained to an open area. There was no significant disruption to operations or damage to the ATC. Evacuation of the entire building was unnecessary, as firefighters promptly identified and managed the source of the fire."

Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the fire in this secure and vital structure. Firefighters suspect that recent decorative work on the second floor, which included the installation of small lights for Independence Day, may have contributed to the incident.

It is believed that the fire may have been caused by the decorative lights being left on for an extended period or a short circuit in faulty wiring. However, the investigation will also explore any potential electrical or mechanical failures or maintenance oversights that could have led to this fire.