Fifteen fire engines are fighting the blaze, which started at a medicine and cosmetics store and godown in the building, fire brigade officials say.
The fire forced many shops to close down, more so as Mehta building reportedly has large stores of chemicals, paints and cosmetics. Nearby buildings also store these goods in their numerous godowns.
Located north of the state government headquarters, Burrabazar was divided into informal zones, each dealing with a specific merchandise, and the biggest of these zones was for chemicals and paints, paper, fabrics, household goods, sarees, steel scrap and bearings.
"Burrabazar is bursting at the seams as the business is booming and therefore the damage to goods will be extensive", said local trader Jeevan Mathani.
Fire officials said the market area was congested as Kolkata Police had allowed handcarts, small trucks and goods vehicles to be parked in two or three parallel lines. Also, goods stacked on the pavements broke or choked water hydrants, they added.
Fire engines had to go to Esplanade and other areas to get water to supplement the foam.
