At least 19 people are said to have died so far in the early morning blaze, which is said to have caught a number of people sleeping there overnight.

 

　　While the fire is now reportedly under control, officials fear there may be a number of people still trapped inside.

 

　　Indian fire fighters try to extinguish a fire at the Surya Sen market in Calcutta, capital of eastern Indian state West Bengal, Feb. 27, 2013. A fire engulfed a multi-storey market complex, with 19 killed and dozen others injured. [Photo: Xinhua]

 

　　The Kolkata Police Commissioner, Surajit Kar Purakayastha, says rescuing those people is now a top priority.

 

　　"Rescue operation is on. Disaster management, fire brigade, local people, civil defence are engaged in rescue operations. Our main priority is to rescue those trapped inside the building and provide proper treatment to the injured."

 

　　While the cause of the fire is still being investigated, authorities are saying it might have been caused by a short circuit in the first floor of the building.

 

　　The market itself is said to be illegal, with the shop keepers also said to have recently been given an eviction notice.

 

　　This isn't the first such fire incident in the city though.

 

　　In 2011, nearly 90 patients died in a hospital fire, while in 2008, a fire at one of the city's largest markets destroyed over 25 Hundred shops.