Policemen at Priya Cinema on Monday

KOLKATA: Sharp differences cropped up between the statements of the state fire minister and the police over the possible origin of the fire at Priya cinema , even as the fire department asked the theatre authorities to temporarily suspend screenings till they obtain a fitness certificate.

Fire minister Sovan Chatterjee said the fire seemed to have started from the first-floor office of theatre owner Arijit Dutta, the forensic department and cops countered that a momo counter operating on the ground floor was the possible point of origin. The fire was limited to a small portion of the first floor surrounding Dutta’s office.

“After detailed discussion with senior fire officials, it looks like the fire had started from the office on the first floor, not from the momo stall,” said Chatterjee. “Once we complete our probe, we will jot down a slew of suggestions to the owners. Only after they comply and get a fitness certificate can they resume screenings.” The minister’s comment came after senior fire officials, led by the director-general of fire services Jag Mohun, inspected the building on Monday morning.

State forensic department officials, however, after thorough inspections, said they suspected the momo counter. “Preliminarily, it looks like the fire had started from the momo stall. We have collected some samples and will furnish a final report,” an official said.

The fire was spotted around 10.15pm on Sunday while the Anil Kapoor-Aishwarya Rai starrer ‘Fanney Khan’ was being screened. Dutta said there were around 50 viewers for the 9.15pm show and, moments after realising the situation, lights were switched on and viewers escorted out by staff. “I think the fire began from the momo store on the ground floor,” Dutta said.

The Wow! Momo counter on the ground floor is one of six commercial establishments on the floor, set up in 2013. “Ours is a fireless kitchen, and we had switched off our deep fryer by the time the fire started. One of our staff members said the fire was seen from the chimney and it may have touched the hot oil kept on the fryer, which could have caused a large flame in our store. But there is very little damage in the counter and we do not think the fire started from our outlet,” said Sagar Daryani, owner and founder of Wow! Momo.

Dutta said he will comply with the fire department’s directions but added he had not received any formal communication yet. “I am ready for any test as our premises complies with fire norms, and we had got a fitness certificate this May. We cannot resume screenings immediately as our ticketing system, computers, CCTV cables and the outdoor unit that handles the lobby AC have got burnt and damaged by water. We need time to mend that,” said Dutta. He added that those who have advance tickets for Monday and other days of the week would be refunded in a day or two.

