15 Killed As Fire Rips Through Hotel in Central Kolkata; Probe Ordered

 

 

Kolkata : Fifteen people, including a woman and two children, were killed in a devastating fire at a hotel in the Mechuapatti area of central Kolkata on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday. Thirteen others sustained injuries. The reason of the fire is not known as police are trying to ascertain the cause. "This incident took place at around 8:15 p.m. at the premises of Rituraj Hotel.

 

Fourteen bodies have been recovered, and several people have been rescued by the teams," Manoj Kumar Verma, Kolkata Police Commissioner, told reporters. "The cause of the fire could not be ascertained. Our forensic team will conduct an investigation of the building. It has been cordoned off," the officer said. One among the dead, identified as Sanjay Paswan, tried to escape from the top floor to escape the fire. As many as 10 fire engines were pressed into action and eight hours of firefighting effort also couldn't bring the fire completely under control. Till Wednesday morning, the fire could not be controlled. The rescue operation is still going on.

 

As many as 10 fire engines were pressed into action and eight hours of firefighting effort also couldn't bring the fire completely under control. (ETV Bharat) Preliminary investigation has revealed that those killed were not burnt but were choked by the thick smoke within the building. According to local sources, the fire broke out between 7:30 pm and 8:45 pm. Fire brigade personnel were not able to enter the hotel due to heavy smoke. As a result, the death toll kept increasing. There were a total of 88 people in 42 rooms of the hotel. Apart from this, 60 hotel staff were inside when the fire broke out. Verma said that the fire is under control, and the rescue operation is still underway. "The fire is under control, and rescue is underway. Further investigation is underway. A special team has also been formed for the investigation," he said. The incident happened at a time when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with almost her entire cabinet, is at Digha in East Midnapore district to attend the inauguration of the Lord Jagannath Temple modelled after the iconic Shree Jagannath Dham temple at Puri in Odisha.

 

A post on X from the Prime Minister's Office said PM Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased, and the injured would be given Rs 50,000."Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Kolkata. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM," the post read. Earlier, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar had urged the state administration to rescue the affected immediately, and called for "stricter monitoring" of fire safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future. "I urge the state administration to immediately rescue those affected, ensure their safety, and provide them with necessary medical and humanitarian assistance.

 

Additionally, I appeal for a thorough review and stricter monitoring of fire safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future," he said in a post on X. Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar also slammed the Kolkata Corporation. "This is a tragic incident. A fire broke out...A lot of people are still stuck in the building. There was no safety or security...I don't know what the corporation is doing," Sarkar said.