Nine die in India hotel fire

A fire broke out at a budget hotel in Kolkata, India, killing nine people, including a child. The fire occurred on the second floor of the hotel building around 1:45-2:50 a.m. local time. Thick smoke enveloped the hotel, and an air conditioner explosion may have triggered the blaze, according to Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state.

The hotel, located in a congested area in central Kolkata, was housing around 60 guests at the time of the fire. Nine people were rescued, including six men, two women, and a child, and taken to hospital for treatment. Some of the victims appeared to be Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment, according to Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal's ruling party. However, the nationalities of those killed have not been officially confirmed.

The fire was brought under control within an hour, with five fire engines deployed to the scene. Local media reported that at least six people were injured and undergoing hospital treatment. The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Business Recorder, The Korea Times, New Straits Times, Malay Mail — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.