Kolkata: At least nine Bangladeshi nationals were killed and six others injured after a massive fire broke out at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19. The victims had reportedly travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment.
The fire broke out at around 2 am, when many guests were asleep. Thick smoke quickly spread through the building, making rescue operations difficult for firefighters.
Fire Breaks Out Around 2 AM
According to officials, the blaze erupted at a hotel in the Mirza Ghalib Street area, close to Kolkata’s New Market. Firefighters rushed to the location after receiving information about the incident.
Four to five fire tenders were deployed as emergency teams worked through the night to bring the flames under control and rescue people trapped inside.
Firefighters reportedly faced difficulties reaching the upper floors because of the dense smoke inside the building.
The flames were eventually brought under control, followed by cooling operations to prevent the fire from reigniting.
Nine Bangladeshi Nationals Among the Dead
Officials said all nine people who died in the blaze were Bangladeshi citizens who had come to Kolkata for medical treatment.
Reports indicate that the deceased included six men, two women and a child. Six other people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
The incident has caused shock in both Kolkata and Bangladesh, particularly because many of those staying in hotels and guest houses in the area are visitors seeking medical care in the city.
Dense Smoke Hampered Rescue Efforts
Officials said the dense smoke inside the hotel made it particularly difficult for rescue personnel to reach people trapped on the upper floors.
Firefighters searched the building and rescued several people. Nine victims were subsequently taken to hospital, where they were declared dead.
The injured have been admitted for medical treatment, while authorities continue to assess the condition of the building and investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze.
Cause of Fire Yet to Be Determined
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established. Authorities are expected to examine the hotel’s electrical systems, fire-safety arrangements and other possible factors as part of the investigation.
Police have secured the area and begun an investigation into the incident.
The tragedy is also likely to bring renewed scrutiny of fire-safety arrangements at hotels and guest houses in central Kolkata, particularly establishments that accommodate large numbers of visitors.
Fire Safety Under Scrutiny
The Kolkata tragedy comes just days after another deadly hotel fire in West Bengal. A separate blaze at a hotel in Tarapith, Birbhum, had also resulted in multiple deaths, raising concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness at hotels in the state.
The back-to-back incidents are expected to prompt questions about whether hotels are complying with fire-safety regulations, including emergency exits, evacuation arrangements, smoke-control systems and access for firefighting personnel.
For now, the priority remains treating the injured, identifying the victims and determining how the fire started.
The Kolkata hotel fire has once again highlighted the devastating consequences that can occur when people are trapped inside buildings during nighttime fires, when evacuation becomes especially difficult.
