A tragic fire broke out at a hotel in Kolkata’s Falapatti Machhua area, leading to the deaths of at least 14 people. According to reports, a senior police officer informed that the incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the central part of Kolkata. The fire broke out in the Rituraj Hotel around 8:15 PM. “Fourteen bodies have been recovered, and several people have been rescued by the teams,” said Manoj Kumar Verma, the Kolkata Police Commissioner, while speaking to the media.
The hotel had around 60 people inside at the time of the fire. The victims included 11 men, one woman, and two children. Eight of the bodies have been identified. In addition to the fatalities, 13 people were injured, with 12 having been discharged from the hospital and one still admitted.
Fire in Busy Area of Kolkata
According to reports from PTI, ten fire engines were dispatched to control the blaze. However, emergency services faced difficulties in the densely crowded Badabazar area, one of the largest wholesale markets in Eastern India. During the fire, many people attempted to escape through the building’s windows and narrow walls. The rescue operation is still ongoing, and a special team has been formed to investigate the cause of the incident.
Calls for Improved Fire Safety Measures
Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar urged the state government to immediately rescue the affected people and ensure their safety. He also called for stricter monitoring of fire safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
In his social media post, Majumdar stated, “I urge the state administration to ensure that affected people are rescued immediately, their safety is assured, and they receive the necessary medical and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, I appeal for a review of fire security measures and strict surveillance to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.”
Mayor and Police Commissioner Visit the Scene
Kolkata’s Mayor Firhad Hakim and Police Commissioner Verma visited the scene to oversee the firefighting efforts and ensure the ongoing rescue operations were efficient.
Criticism of Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Congress President Shubhankar Sarkar criticized the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, pointing out the lack of safety measures in the building. Sarkar told ANI, “This is a tragic incident. A fire broke out, and many people got trapped inside. There was no safety. I don’t know what the corporation is doing.”
The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about fire safety in densely populated areas of Kolkata and the need for better infrastructure to protect citizens during emergencies.
