The fire at a Kolkata hotel early Wednesday has laid bare serious safety lapses, with investigators finding that the property lacked proper fire precautions and had narrow passages that may have trapped guests inside.
The blaze broke out around 2am at Hotel Sikha Inn, located in Florence Mansion, an old four‑storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street under the New Market police station.
Nine people, including a child and two women, died in the incident, while about 60 others were rescued.
Police initially said the victims were Bangladeshi nationals, but NDTV reported that one victim was a resident of Jharkhand staying at the hotel. Meanwhile, ANI and India Today said that all the deceased were Bangladeshis.
Officials said most victims appeared to have died from smoke inhalation rather than burns. A state fire services officer noted that the flames were not intense, but thick black smoke engulfed the building, leaving residents struggling to breathe. Poor ventilation and narrow entry and exit routes worsened the situation.
Investigators pointed to the building’s design as a factor behind the death toll. The cramped passages and exits confused residents already disoriented by the smoke, NDTV reports.
Police later discovered that multiple hotels and guest houses were operating on different floors, each with small rooms and tight corridors. The fire is believed to have started on the third floor before smoke spread throughout the structure.
Rescue operations continued through the night, with police and fire personnel pulling around 60 people out of the building. Nine bodies were recovered.
West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul visited the site and received a briefing from senior police officers. She said the government is planning to form a team to check whether hotels in the city have valid permits and fire licences.
Paul told reporters that police are still verifying whether the deceased were Bangladeshis or Indian, and identities will be confirmed after investigation.
Police registered a case at New Market police station following the incident. The hotel owner and staff are absconding, and efforts are underway to trace them. A forensic examination of the site has been ordered.
The tragedy has raised questions about fire safety enforcement in older buildings in Kolkata, where multiple establishments often operate from the same premises without adequate emergency measures.
