Deadly Fire at Kolkata Hotel
A fire broke out at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, killing at least nine people, including a child. Among the dead were five Bangladeshi nationals, four of whom belonged to the same family. The Bangladeshi victims had traveled to Kolkata for medical treatment.
According to the Free Press Journal, the fire was first seen around 2:00 a.m. on Free School Street near New Market, a densely populated area. Four fire tenders rushed to the spot. Nearly 60 people were rescued from the building, and nine were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The Hindu Business Line reported that the hotel was located under the New Market Police Station area. Kolkata Police confirmed the rescue of around 60 people from the hotel premises.
Victims Identified
The Times of India identified the victims as Debashis Dutta, 37, his wife Afsana Shirmin, 25, their four-year-old son Swarnashis, and Afsana's father, 64-year-old Akram Ali. The family had arrived in India on August 3. Dutta, his wife, and son had traveled to Bengaluru for Afsana's medical treatment, while her father stayed in Kolkata. After returning, the three checked into the hotel at 15G Mirza Ghalib Street.
Dutta, a journalist who had worked with several newspapers including Ajker Patrika and Ajker Alo, shared a final Facebook post on Monday evening with the words "Bengaluru bye bye," along with a video clip and a photograph of him with his wife and son. The couple also had an eight-year-old daughter who remained in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh foreign ministry confirmed that five Bangladeshis were among the nine killed, with four from the same family. Six other Bangladeshi nationals were injured and released after primary treatment.
Investigation and Response
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered the formation of a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. In a statement reported by The Hindu Business Line, Adhikari blamed the previous Trinamool Congress government's "legacy of negligence" for the fire, alleging that infrastructure was allowed to grow unchecked and hotels operated while ignoring mandatory fire safety norms.
The Free Press Journal reported that preliminary investigations found the hotel lacked basic fire safety measures. Initial reports suggested the fire broke out on the third floor due to an air-conditioner explosion, though the exact cause has not been determined.
Kolkata police registered a case against Bireswar Mitra, the owner of the building, and staff members, according to the same report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences in a post on X, saying he was "pained to learn" about the loss of lives and that the local administration was assisting those affected.
International Response
The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata contacted the families of the deceased and was coordinating with hospitals and police to provide assistance. The commission also opened a 24-hour helpline for those affected, as reported by The Times of India.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry was in contact with Indian authorities regarding the fire.
Ministers Agnimitra Paul and Tapas Roy visited the site and criticized the previous TMC government's alleged corruption and negligence, according to the Free Press Journal.