Now Reading: SIT to probe Kolkata hotel fire that killed 9, including 5 Bangladeshis
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SIT to probe Kolkata hotel fire that killed 9, including 5 Bangladeshis
SIT to probe Kolkata hotel fire that killed 9, including 5 Bangladeshis
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the fire at Shika Inn hotel in central Kolkata that killed nine people, including a child, officials said. The SIT will be headed by Bhagirath Ghosh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration), Detective Department, Kolkata. The fire broke out around 2 am on Wednesday at the hotel under New Market Police Station jurisdiction.
Around 60 people were rescued from the building, while several others were injured. According to sources, some of the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals who had come to Kolkata for medical treatment. The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata confirmed five Bangladeshi nationals among the dead, including four from the same family. Six injured Bangladeshi nationals were released after primary treatment.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed concern and said the administration was focused on rescue and relief operations and determining the fire's cause. He alleged the tragedy highlighted a 'legacy of negligence' from the previous regime, claiming structures operated as hotels without mandatory fire safety norms. The SIT will investigate the circumstances and the hotel's safety and compliance aspects.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The SIT probe will focus on whether the hotel, Shika Inn, had a valid fire safety clearance from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services. Fatal hotel fires in India often reveal lapses in compliance with the National Building Code 2016, which mandates fire alarms, sprinklers, and emergency exits for commercial buildings. The victims included Bangladeshi nationals seeking medical care, highlighting a gap in safety for vulnerable guests. The next step is the SIT's forensic report, which will determine if criminal negligence charges are filed against the hotel management.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
