Post by : Badri Ariffin

At least nine people, including a child, were killed after a massive fire broke out at a hotel in central Kolkata in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19. The incident took place around 2 a.m. at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street, formerly known as Free School Street, near the busy New Market area.

According to the West Bengal Fire Department, all nine people who died were Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. The victims included six men, two women and a child. Six other people were taken to hospital for treatment after the incident.

Fire Breaks Out Around 2 AM

The fire reportedly started at the hotel shortly before or around 2 a.m., when many guests were asleep. Thick smoke quickly spread through the building, making it difficult for people trapped on the upper floors to escape.

Firefighters were alerted at around 2:07 a.m. Emergency teams rushed to the location, and several fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze. A disaster management team also joined the rescue operation.

Fire officials said more than 60 people were rescued from the building. Nine people were found unconscious and taken to hospital, where they were later declared dead. Six other people were also admitted for treatment.

Hotel Fire Safety Under Investigation

The fire has raised serious questions about safety arrangements at the hotel. Preliminary reports indicate that the building may not have had adequate fire-safety equipment or emergency escape arrangements. Survivors and officials have also raised concerns about the absence of proper fire alarms and firefighting systems.

Reports initially suggested that the fire may have started after an air-conditioner explosion. However, authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire, and an investigation is underway. Therefore, the AC explosion should be treated as an early possibility rather than a confirmed cause.

Police Begin Search for Hotel Owner

Kolkata Police have registered a case and started investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire. The hotel owner and some staff members are reportedly being traced as part of the investigation.

Authorities are also expected to examine whether the hotel was operating with the required fire-safety permissions and whether basic emergency measures were in place.

Kolkata Hotel Fire Comes After Tarapith Tragedy

The Kolkata hotel fire occurred just two days after another deadly hotel fire in West Bengal. A blaze at Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith, Birbhum district, on August 17 killed several guests, including members of a family from Meghalaya. The incident has renewed concerns about fire-safety standards at hotels and guesthouses across the state.

The back-to-back incidents have put the spotlight on the need for proper fire alarms, emergency exits, firefighting equipment and regular safety inspections, particularly in hotels located in densely populated areas.

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