India hotel fire kills 9, more injured

A hotel fire in Kolkata, India on Wednesday claimed at least nine lives and left several others injured, according to a senior fire department official. Among the fatalities was a child, bringing the death toll to nine, including six men, two women, and the young victim. Thick smoke billowed from the budget hotel, and some of the injured were discovered in bathroom areas.

Preliminary reports suggested that an air conditioning unit within the establishment may have exploded, igniting the fire. Nine individuals, comprising six men, two women, and a child, were rescued and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal's ruling party, indicated that some of the victims were Bangladeshi nationals who had journeyed to Kolkata for medical care.

He conveyed that efforts were underway to ascertain the precise nationalities of the deceased. The hotel accommodated a total of 60 guests at the time of the fire. India experiences a high frequency of building fires due to inadequate firefighting resources and a general disregard for safety regulations. In recent news, a hotel blaze in Lucknow resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, with many jumping from the first-floor windows in a desperate attempt to escape.

Additionally, Indian authorities have apprehended the owner of a hotel following a deadly fire incident.