Rahul Somvanshi
A fire at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street, near New Market in Kolkata, killed nine Bangladeshi nationals, including women and a child, police confirmed. The blaze broke out at night, and more than six people were injured. Some guests jumped from the building to escape the flames.
Officials suspect the fire started from an AC unit blast or a short circuit. Poor ventilation inside the hotel made it harder for smoke to escape, which raised the risk of suffocation. Most of the people who died were suffocated by smoke, not burned.
Fire department teams rescued around 80 people from the building. Many of those who died or were hurt were Bangladeshi nationals who had come to India for medical treatment.
The hotel owner initially fled after the fire broke out. Two staff members were detained for questioning. Police later arrested the owners over safety violations. Investigators are now looking into whether the hotel followed basic fire safety rules.
The incident has raised questions about fire safety standards in budget hotels that serve medical tourists in the city. Authorities are reviewing safety certifications for similar establishments in the area.
