At least nine killed in hotel fire in India’s Kolkata

At least nine individuals lost their lives, including a child, in a hotel fire that broke out in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Wednesday morning, according to local police. The conflagration ignited around 2:50 a.m. local time on the second floor of the building. Firefighters swiftly brought the blaze under control within an hour.

An estimated 30 people were evacuated safely from the premises. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it may have been sparked by an electrical short circuit. The identity of the victims has yet to be confirmed, though it is reported that at least six people sustained injuries and required hospital treatment. Local media outlets, including ANI, cited the fire department, stating that among the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals who had arrived in Kolkata to receive medical care.

However, the senior police officer quoted by Reuters maintained that the nationalities of the victims had not been definitively established. The hotel in question is situated in a densely populated area of central Kolkata and is renowned for providing affordable lodging and dining options.