Kolkata Hotel Fire: 9 Dead, AC Blast Suspected

Bangladeshi nationals among the victims as a massive fire engulfs a Kolkata hotel; around 60 people rescued during the overnight operation

Kolkata: Nine persons, which included a child, lost their lives in a huge fire that erupted at a hotel in Kolkata early Wednesday morning. This happened at a hotel on Free School Street close to New Market, which is one of the most crowded places in the city.

This caused a massive rescue operation after people found themselves trapped in the burning structure. People involved in firefighting activities and disaster management came to the scene after getting information about the fire.As per the fire department, Bangladeshis were also among the victims who lost their lives in this fire accident. These people had come to Kolkata for some treatment, as informed by news agency ANI.

कहानियां जो आपको पसंद आ सकती हैं

Gen Z Protests: Supreme Court छात्रों की FIR कर सकता है रद्द

Purnia to Patna Train: जानें टाइमिंग और स्टॉपेज

Top 10 Afternoon News: देश-दुनिया की बड़ी खबरें

Fire Breaks Out About 2 AM

The firefighters were informed of the incident at about 2:07 am. Four fire tenders as well as a disaster management team were dispatched to the scene.According to preliminary information, the fire broke out on the third floor of the hotel. It seems like an air conditioner exploded, resulting in the fire outbreak; however, the exact reasons are still to be determined by officials.The fire quickly covered the whole building due to the large amount of smoke that made it hard for guests to get out. Another difficulty that firefighters faced was the thick smoke in the stairwell.It was necessary to get people out of the burning building.

About 60 People Have Been Rescued

According to officials, about 60 people were rescued from the hotel. Nine people, however, were found unconscious and were subsequently pronounced dead at a hospital.One of those who died is said to be a child. One of the victims has allegedly been identified as someone hailing from Jharkhand.The police officer revealed that the dense smoke had made it challenging for the firemen to access the upper floors of the building via the staircase.

Hotel Owner and Employees Sought after Incident

In the aftermath of the event, Kolkata Police filed a case and began an investigation into the matter concerning the fire.In addition, police are also in search of the hotel owner and employees, who have been allegedly fleeing. There is a question regarding the fire safety precautions taken by the hotel.It was discovered that the hotel did not have any fire safety precautions in place. The investigation is supposed to look into the issue of negligence in the fire safety procedures.The real cause of the fire can be determined after the investigation is complete.

Rescue Operation Helps Contain the Blaze

It was quite difficult for the firefighters to enter the burning building due to the rapid diffusion of smoke throughout the rooms and the stairway.Despite the difficult situation, the rescue crews did not abandon their efforts and saved many people.It has been reported that the first thing that authorities wanted to do was to save any trapped people and understand what caused the fire.

Second Major Hotel Fire Occurrence in West Bengal

This fire incident occurred barely two days after yet another fatal hotel fire in the state of West Bengal.On August 17, a fire erupted in Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith. Eight people died while others were injured in the fire. The fire erupted at about 4.30 in the morning on the ground floor of the five-story building when the majority of the guests were asleep.Among the victims are five members of a family who hail from the state of Meghalaya, including two kids. It is reported that the family members were sleeping on the top floor of the hotel.The injured persons were rushed to the hospital for medical care.Both these fires have once again brought into focus the fire safety measures in hotels of West Bengal. The investigation into the fire in the hotel in Kolkata is centered on establishing the cause of the fire and the role of hotel management.