9 killed in Indian budget hotel fire after suspected air-con explosion
At least nine people were killed and several others injured in a fire at a hotel in the Indian city of Kolkata on Wednesday, a senior fire department official said. “Nine people were killed, including a child, in the fire that broke out early on Wednesday,” said Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state. “Thick smoke enveloped the hotel. Some victims were found in the…
A fire erupted early Wednesday at a budget hotel in Kolkata, India, claiming at least nine lives and leaving several others injured, according to a senior fire department official. Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, reported that the victims included a child among six men, two women, and the deceased child.
Thick smoke engulfed the structure, forcing several victims to be found in the bathrooms. Five fire engines were dispatched to extinguish the blaze, while police and disaster management teams launched rescue operations. Nine individuals – six men, two women, and the child – were rescued and transported to a nearby hospital. Preliminary reports suggest an air conditioning unit in the hotel may have exploded, triggering the fire.
Some victims were reportedly Bangladeshi nationals who had journeyed to Kolkata for medical treatment. West Bengal’s ruling party member Santosh Pathak confirmed the victims' nationalities are under investigation. A total of 60 guests were present in the hotel at the time of the fire. The establishment is situated in a densely populated area of central Kolkata and is renowned for its affordable lodging and eateries.
Building fires are a recurrent issue in India, primarily due to insufficient firefighting resources and a general lack of compliance with safety protocols. Just a day prior, a fire at a hotel in Tarapith, a temple town in West Bengal, resulted in at least seven fatalities and numerous critical injuries. The conflagration ignited around 4:30 a.m. on the ground floor of a four-story building while most residents were asleep.
Most guests were pilgrims visiting the town to pay homage at a prominent temple complex housing a shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. Firefighters managed to contain the inferno, and the injured were transported to a hospital, where some were treated for burns, while others suffered from smoke inhalation and asphyxiation.
Hotel management informed the Press Trust of India that the blaze likely originated near the reception area after an electrical component in the power supply system malfunctioned and ignited. Authorities are currently investigating the incident and have not yet determined the precise cause. Additional reporting by Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this account.
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