Kolkata: At least nine people, including a 4-year-old child, died after a fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street — popularly known as Free School Street — in central Kolkata.
Fire Department officials said most of those who died were Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. They lost consciousness and suffocated in thick smoke while asleep; several others were rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Rescue Effort Hampered By Smoke
Five fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze that erupted around 1.45 am in one of the city’s most crowded and densely populated areas. Police and Disaster Management Department personnel reached the spot for the rescue operation, as reported by Moneycontrol.
Dense smoke inside the building made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors, a police officer said.
“While nine people have died, more deaths are feared,” the officer added.
The flames have been doused and cooling operations are underway, officials said.
“Our priority is to rescue those trapped and determine the reasons for the fire. The flames have been doused, and the cooling process is underway,” the police officer said.
Identities Still Being Established: MinisterI
Speaking to PTI, Fire Department Minister Kaushik Chowdhury said the identities of those killed are yet to be established. The deceased include both Indians and Bangladeshi nationals, he said after visiting the site.
“We are trying to establish their identities. The situation inside this building is very bad. There are several hotels inside this building. I am shocked to see what was going on here,” Chowdhury said.
Cause Under Probe
Preliminary reports suggest the fire was triggered by a short circuit or an Air Conditioning unit explosion, according to News 18. However, there has been no official confirmation yet regarding the cause of the blaze.
West Bengal Fire Department headquarters is located close to the hotel building.
2nd Hotel Fire In Bengal In 48 Hours
The incident comes two days after eight lives were lost in a fire incident at a hotel in Tarapith, Birbhum, West Bengal on Monday.
Twenty-eight people were rescued, while seven others are undergoing treatment. The injured are from Shib Bari Bagmara in South Garo Hills of Meghalaya.
Among the victims five were from Meghalaya, while three others were from Alipurduar in North Bengal.