9 including Bangladeshi nationals dead in Kolkata hotel fire

At least nine people, including a child, died after a major fire broke out at a hotel in Kolkata early Wednesday (August 19).

The blaze began around 2 am at a hotel on Free School Street near New Market in central Kolkata. Several guests became trapped as flames spread through the building.

Identity of the deceased

Speaking to PTI, Fire Department Minister Kaushik Chowdhury said the identities of those killed are yet to be established. The deceased include both Indians and Bangladeshi nationals, he said after visiting the site.

"We are trying to establish their identities. The situation inside this building is very bad. There are several hotels inside this building. I am shocked to see what was going on here," Chowdhury said.

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Asked about the cause of the fire, the minister said that it could be because of a short circuit. "But a forensic examination would reveal what led to the blaze," he said.

"The building management did not comply with basic safety and construction norms. It is alleged that there were several irregularities in the functioning of the hotel," the minister added.

Fire Department officials had earlier told ANI that all nine deceased were Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. Four fire tenders rushed to the spot after being informed about the incident, and a disaster management team has also been pressed into service for rescue operations.

Guests trapped as fire spreads

Firefighters evacuated guests and brought the blaze under control.

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Fire Brigade personnel faced difficulty during the rescue operation due to heavy smoke engulfing the hotel, which complicated the process of firefighters moving up the staircase and reaching guests on the higher floors.

‘More casualties feared’: Police

A police officer said that the death toll had reached nine, while more casualties were feared.

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“Our priority is to rescue those trapped and determine the reasons for the fire. The flames have been doused, and the cooling process is underway,” he added.

West Bengal Fire Department headquarters is located close to the hotel building.

Earlier incident

The incident comes two days after another deadly hotel fire in West Bengal's Birbhum district. Eight people died at Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith on August 17. The fire began around 4:30 am on the ground floor while most guests were asleep.

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Five members of a Meghalaya family died in that fire, including two children. They were staying on the top floor and tried to escape after discovering the blaze. Their attempt to reach the lower floors was blocked by flames, reported NDTV.

Rescuers later took the injured to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, where they received treatment.