Kolkata: Basta Patti evacuated, Diwali business takes a hit

KOLKATA: An entire market of jute and jute products, with several shops, manufacturing units and families, had to be evacuated after several buildings developed cracks at the East-West Metro site in Bowbazar on Friday morning.
The units here manufacture jute products used for packaging purposes, which have a high demand before Dhanteras and Diwali. But around 8am on Friday, labourers were seen moving stacks of jute out of the market.Families, too, were moving out with belongings.
“Cops said it is risky to stay here now,” said Pankaj Sau, whose family lives in Basta Patti with nine other families.
Owners of manufacturing units and shops were also moving raw materials out. “There are around 50 shops and manufacturing units in Basta Patti. This is a period of good business, but we are not sure how much we will be able to work,” said Bikash Yadav, owner of one of the units.