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India news: Several killed in Kolkata hotel fire

At least nine people have died, including some Bangladeshi nationals, authorities said. Meanwhile, the building's owner was reportedly absconding. DW has more.

Nine people lost their lives and six others sustained injuries when a fire erupted in Kolkata, India early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at around 1:45 a.m. in the central part of the city. The fire sparked intense discussions and debates about the safety standards and infrastructure of the old buildings in Kolkata, particularly in its northern and central neighborhoods.

The city's Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, blamed the previous government for the negligence that led to the disaster. He vowed to undo the damage and enforce safety standards that should have been in place all along. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. The tragedy has reignited discussions about India's infrastructure challenges and the need for better safety measures.

Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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