Now Reading: Kolkata hotel fire kills 9, 6 injured, toll may rise
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Kolkata hotel fire kills 9, 6 injured, toll may rise
A fire broke out at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata around 1:45 am on Wednesday, killing at least nine people and injuring six others. Fire engines reached the spot soon after the alert was received, and five vehicles were deployed to douse the flames. Police and disaster management teams also joined the rescue operation.
Officials said the fire has been brought under control and cooling operations are underway. However, thick smoke inside the hotel made it difficult for firefighters to reach the upper floors. A police officer said the priority is to safely evacuate anyone still trapped and determine the cause of the blaze. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as more people may be found trapped during the search.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Police and the fire department have launched an investigation. The hotel is located close to the West Bengal fire department headquarters, yet the fire spread rapidly, posing challenges for the rescue teams.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Central Kolkata's old buildings often lack adequate fire safety infrastructure. Hotels and lodges in the area, many operating in narrow lanes, are not always compliant with fire NOCs. The proximity of the blaze to the fire department headquarters highlights a gap in preparedness. Previous hotel fires in Kolkata, including the 2019 Sudder Street blaze, led to stricter enforcement that has since slackened. The city fire chief and the municipal corporation will now face questions about fire audits and compliance. Watch for the post-mortem reports and the police FIR, which will name the hotel owner and establish if criminal negligence applies.
Source: bazaar.businesstoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
