Deadly Blaze Engulfs Kolkata Hotel, Claiming Nine Lives Including Medical Tourists
KOLKATA, India – A devastating fire tore through a budget hotel in Kolkata early Wednesday morning, killing nine people, among them five Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled to the Indian city for medical treatment. The tragic incident has once again cast a harsh light on India’s pervasive issue of fire safety and lax regulations.
Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, confirmed the grim toll, stating, "Nine people were killed, including a child, in the fire that broke out early on Wednesday." He described a scene of chaos and suffocation, adding, "Thick smoke enveloped the hotel. Some victims were found in the bathrooms," suggesting they may have been overcome while attempting to escape or find refuge.
The inferno at the Shika Inn hotel, located in a bustling area of the West Bengal capital, is suspected to have originated from an exploding air conditioner, according to Sharma’s preliminary assessment. The swift spread of the blaze and the resulting dense smoke trapped many of the estimated 60 guests within the multi-story building.
The Bangladeshi Deputy High Commission in Kolkata tragically confirmed that five of the deceased were their citizens. "Of the nine, five are Bangladeshis, four of whom are from the same family," a statement from the commission read. Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal’s ruling party, further elaborated that these individuals had journeyed to Kolkata specifically for medical care.
Kolkata is a prominent destination for medical tourism, particularly for hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis who seek more affordable and accessible treatment options in India each year. Its geographical proximity to Dhaka makes it a highly favored choice, accounting for over half of these medical travelers.
Eyewitness accounts painted a harrowing picture. Atiyar Rehman, a guest from Satkhira, Bangladesh, managed to escape but recounted a terrifying experience to the Indian Express newspaper. "We woke up struggling to breathe in the smoke. We somehow managed to escape," Rehman said, critically adding that the hotel appeared to have no functioning fire safety system.
Firefighters faced immense challenges in their rescue efforts. A police officer, quoted by the Press Trust of India news agency, stated, "The dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors." Rescuers resorted to using ladders to scale the building, breaking through windows to reach trapped individuals. While the fire has been brought under control, a forensic team has been deployed to investigate the scene. Media reports indicated that at least six people were also injured and rushed to the hospital.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation and concern. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow, tweeting, "Extremely pained to learn about the loss of life due to a fire at a hotel in Kolkata. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is assisting those who are affected."
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on X (formerly Twitter) the formation of a five-member team to conduct a "comprehensive inquiry" into the blaze. The state’s fire minister, Kaushik Chaudhary, confirmed that police are actively investigating potential safety lapses at the hotel, located in a densely populated and commercial part of Kolkata.
This tragedy comes just two days after another fatal hotel fire in West Bengal’s holy town of Tarapith, where eight people perished during the sacred month of Shravan, highlighting a recurring and alarming pattern of inadequate fire safety infrastructure and enforcement across India. The lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations continue to contribute to such devastating incidents across the country. The recurring nature of such incidents underscores the urgent need for stringent enforcement of safety standards and modernization of emergency response systems to prevent further loss of life.
For more details on the tragic event, you can refer to the original source: Kolkata fire.
