Kolkata shuts 13 hotels, issues notices to 50 over fire safety violations

The West Bengal government has taken action against 13 hotels in central Kolkata for violating fire safety regulations. Additionally, 16 hotels have been asked to vacate the premises, and 50 hotels have received show-cause notices for non-compliance across the city and 29 in various districts. A senior officer from the state fire department reported that at least 16 hotels in central Kolkata have been shut down or issued show-cause notices.

The hotels affected are located on Mirza Ghalib Street, Marquis Street, and SN Banerjee Road in central Kolkata. This incident follows a deadly fire at Shikha Inn Hotel earlier this week, which claimed nine lives. The hotel's lease holder has been arrested, while the owner remains at large. Six of the deceased have been taken to Bangladesh, and one body was cremated in Kolkata.

This is the second such incident in the state within a week. A fire in a hotel in Tarapith, a temple town in West Bengal, also resulted in nine fatalities, including two children. The authorities have closed down 15 hotels in Tarapith due to fire safety concerns. State fire minister Kaushik Chowdhury stated that actions have been initiated against several officers, and further inspections will continue.

Urban development minister Agnimitra Paul criticized the hotels for having cramped rooms, excessive electricity usage due to air-conditioners, and failure to obtain proper licenses. Fire brigade officials noted that 29 hotels in various districts have been served notices to show cause why they should not be closed down. Some hotels were operating without fire licenses, which had expired four to five years ago, while others had locked emergency gates and inadequate ventilation.

The six Bangladeshis killed in the central Kolkata fire are expected to be transported to Bangladesh via road on Saturday.