India hotel fire kills 9, more injured

At least nine people were killed and several more injured in a hotel fire in Kolkata, India on Wednesday, according to a senior fire department official. The blaze erupted early in the morning and thick smoke engulfed the building. Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, confirmed to AFP that the victims included a child.

The victims were found in various locations within the hotel, including bathrooms. Preliminary reports suggested that an air conditioner in the budget hotel may have exploded, triggering the fire. Nine individuals were rescued and transported to a hospital, six men, two women, and a child. Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal's ruling party, mentioned that some of the victims were likely Bangladeshi nationals seeking medical treatment in Kolkata.

A total of 60 guests were present in the hotel at the time of the fire. The incident highlights the common occurrence of building fires in India, exacerbated by a lack of adequate firefighting equipment and disregard for safety regulations.