Kolkata: At least 14 people died in a devastating fire that broke out in a hotel near Falpatti Machhua in central Kolkata’s Burrabazar, police said on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is currently in Digha for the inauguration of the newly constructed Jagannath temple, called up Mayor Firhad Hakim and the Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma on Wednesday and enquired about the devastating fire.
Sources said the CM has directed Hakim and Verma to be present at the site to personally oversee the rescue operation.
“The fire broke out at Rituraj Hotel on Tuesday night. Fourteen bodies have been recovered so far, and several individuals have been rescued by emergency teams,” said a senior official of the Kolkata Police.
The CM instructed officials to immediately contact the families of the many out-of-state visitors staying at the hotel and emphasised that those currently undergoing treatment must receive urgent care.
“Thick smoke filled the premises, and most of the victims died due to suffocation. One person died while attempting to escape by jumping off the roof,” said Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, who visited the site.
The bodies have been sent for postmortem. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to determine the cause of the fire. “If any negligence or foul play is uncovered, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” Verma said.
Ten fire engines were dispatched to the scene. Despite nearly eight hours of effort, the fire brigade managed to bring the blaze under control but could not fully extinguish it. Rescue operations are still ongoing.
The road connecting Central Avenue and Bidhan Sarani, where the hotel is located, is quite congested. The area around the hotel is densely packed with shops and houses, raising fears of the fire spreading quickly. Mayor Firhad Hakim visited the site on Tuesday night.
Speaking to the media, Hakim said, “The fire originated on the second floor and quickly spread to the other floors of the building. Firefighters are currently working to cool down the affected areas to safely continue rescue operations. A forensic team is expected to visit the site, and only after their investigation will the exact cause of the fire be determined.”
