Kolkata Hotel Fire Kills Nine, Safety Lapses Under Scanner

A fire at a hotel in Kolkata killed at least nine people and injured six others early on Wednesday.

Investigators are examining safety lapses, including missing fire clearance, blocked emergency exits, cramped rooms, and electrical safety concerns. The blaze erupted around 1:45 AM in a five-story building housing several hotels, located close to the West Bengal Fire Department headquarters in central Kolkata. Among the dead were two women and a four-year-old child. At least 80 people were rescued from the building.

Koushik Chowdhury, a state minister, stated that some of the victims were Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled to Kolkata for medical treatment. Many victims are believed to have died from smoke inhalation, as several people were unable to escape to safety and some rooms lacked windows. Firefighters struggled to reach people trapped on upper floors due to dense smoke.

Five fire engines were deployed to control the blaze, which was later brought under control. Police and disaster management teams conducted rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his pain over the loss of life and wished a swift recovery for the injured. Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, said preliminary information suggested an air conditioner in the budget hotel might have exploded, causing the blaze.

Minister Kaushik Chowdhury alleged the building management did not comply with basic safety and construction norms and that there were several irregularities in the hotel's functioning. The government will conduct fire safety inspections at hotels across the state.