A tragic fire erupted early Wednesday morning in a five-story building housing several hotels in Kolkata, leading to the deaths of at least nine people and injuring six others, according to local police reports. The incident took place around 1:45 a.m. near the West Bengal Fire Department’s headquarters in central Kolkata, with the building described as “dingy” by the Press Trust of India.
Among the deceased were two women and a four-year-old child. Reports indicate that at least 80 individuals were rescued from the structure, as confirmed by a senior official. Koushik Chowdhury, a state minister who visited the scene, noted that some victims were Bangladeshi nationals.
Authorities said that many victims likely succumbed to smoke inhalation, as numerous escape routes were blocked and several rooms lacked windows. Rescue teams were able to save a couple from a room that did have a window.
In response to the disaster, the government plans to conduct fire safety inspections at hotels across the state. Emergency personnel managed to control the fire, and their immediate focus shifted to rescuing any remaining individuals trapped inside while investigating the fire’s cause.
Forensic experts have begun collecting evidence, and police have initiated an investigation to determine the fire’s origin and whether safety regulations were followed. Preliminary reports suggest a short circuit might have sparked the blaze.
As smoke filled the building, firefighters faced challenges reaching those trapped on the upper floors, a police officer reported. Five fire engines were deployed to manage the fire, while police and disaster response teams carried out the rescue operation. The injured individuals were transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Fires linked to electrical faults or gas explosions are not uncommon in India, with many fires historically caused by safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire codes. Just a few days prior, another fire at a hotel in the temple town of Tarapith, West Bengal, resulted in at least seven fatalities and several severe injuries. Last December, a fire at a popular nightclub in Goa claimed the lives of 25 people.
