Kolkata:Popular Bengali astrologer Jayanta Shastri died in a blaze that broke out at his east Kolkata residence on Sunday morning.
Neighbours and local residents saw the blaze engulfing the second floor of Shastri's Kestopur Barowaritala residence, and immediately informed the police and fire brigade. Two fire tenders were pressed into service.
The locals first saw the flame at around 8 a.m. The fire-fighting operation was hampered as the area is densely populated, an officer said.