SIT formed to investigate Kolkata fire

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established to probe the fatal fire at Shika Inn hotel in Kolkata, according to officials. The team will be led by Bhagirath Ghosh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration), Detective Department, Kolkata. The blaze occurred around 2 am on Wednesday at the hotel situated on Mirza Ghalib Street, which falls under the jurisdiction of New Market Police Station.

Around 60 individuals were successfully rescued from the building, while several others suffered injuries. Some of the victims were identified as Bangladeshi nationals who had journeyed to Kolkata for medical treatment.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed his concern over the incident, emphasizing that the administration was prioritizing rescue and relief efforts, as well as determining the causes of the fire. He alleged that the previous administration had neglected fire safety norms and allowed infrastructure to grow without proper enforcement. Adhikari stressed that the current government was committed to enforcing safety standards and providing necessary assistance to those affected.

The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata confirmed the identities of five Bangladeshi nationals among the deceased. Four of them were identified as members of the same family. The commission has reached out to the families of the victims, and six injured Bangladeshi nationals were released after receiving initial medical treatment. The Special Investigation Team will investigate the circumstances leading to the fire and assess the safety and compliance aspects of the hotel.