Kolkata Hotel Fire Kills 14, Sparks Safety Investigation
INDIA – A devastating fire broke out at the Rituraj Hotel in Kolkata yesterday, claiming the lives of at least 14 people, including two children.
The blaze started around 8:15 p.m. (1445 GMT) in a first-floor room near the kitchen before swiftly engulfing the six-storey building, authorities said.
With nearly 50 occupants inside, panic spread as flames consumed the hotel in Burrabazar, a densely populated business district.
Many guests managed to escape, but most victims were discovered in the staircase, where authorities believe asphyxiation was the primary cause of death, according to West Bengal’s fire and emergency services minister, Sujit Bose.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and will examine why the hotel’s firefighting system failed to function.
Bose confirmed that eight victims have been identified so far.
Initial reports suggest an electrical short circuit may have triggered the blaze, though officials have not ruled out other fire safety lapses.
Firefighters worked tirelessly to rescue trapped guests, pulling five people from their rooms and about 20 from the roof. Others clung to window ledges before being saved using hydraulic ladders.
Tragically, one guest, overcome with panic, jumped from the roof and did not survive, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim reported.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma commended emergency personnel for their rapid action, which helped minimize casualties.
Footage from Indian news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake, showed firefighters using megaphones to calm stranded guests and direct them to safety.
The hotel, which had 88 people in 42 rooms, including 60 staff members, was situated in a congested area, making firefighter access challenging.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been assigned to probe safety lapses and political figures—including West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar—have called for stricter fire safety enforcement across Kolkata.
In the wake of the tragedy, officials are reviewing fire regulations and safety protocols in densely packed urban areas, as Kolkata has faced multiple deadly fires in past years, including the Stephen Court fire in 2010 and AMRI Hospital blaze in 2011.
