Kolkata hotel fire kills at least 14, including 2 children

A big fire broke out in a six-storey hotel called Rituraj, located in central Kolkata’s Mechua Bazar area, on Tuesday night. The fire started at around 8:20 pm on the first floor of the hotel. Within minutes, smoke filled the entire building. The hotel mainly hosted traders from other states.

The fire quickly spread through the building. Thick smoke covered the rooms and corridors. This made it hard for people to breathe. Most of the 14 people who died suffocated due to the smoke. The victims include 11 men, one woman, and two children. The authorities said that 13 other people were injured in the fire. Out of them, 12 were later released from the hospital, while one person is still admitted for treatment.

One hotel staff member named Manoj Paswas died in a different way. He got scared because of the smoke and jumped from one of the upper floors. He could not survive the fall. Many people inside the hotel tried to escape the smoke by going up to the rooftop and standing on the balconies. Some of them were rescued from there by firefighters using hydraulic ladders.

Rescue and investigation

As soon as the fire started, a total of 10 fire engines were rushed to the spot. The fire was finally brought under control by 3:30 am on Wednesday. Throughout the night, rescue efforts continued. Fire brigade teams worked hard to save people stuck inside. The smoke had made it hard for people to move or see anything.

Firhad Hakim, the Mayor of Kolkata, reached the spot quickly. He was joined by Manoj Verma, the Commissioner of Police. Senior police and fire officers were also present. The officials checked the situation and guided the rescue operations.

Mayor Hakim said that the police and fire department will find out how the fire started. He also said that a case will be registered to investigate the matter. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is currently in Digha, was informed about the incident.

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According to police, the hotel had 88 guests staying across 42 rooms. The staff of the hotel was around 60 members. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to look into the incident and find the cause of the fire. The team will also check if the hotel followed fire safety rules.

This tragic fire has shocked the city. Many people are now asking how a hotel in such a busy part of Kolkata caught fire so easily. The authorities are under pressure to take strong action. People expect that those responsible for any negligence will be punished.

In the coming days, the government and officials will be closely watched as they carry out the investigation and take steps to prevent such fires in the future.