Kolkata Hotel Fire: 9 Dead, 6 Injured in Midnight Blaze; Rescue Operation Underway

Kolkata: At least nine people were killed and six others injured after a massive fire broke out at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata early Wednesday morning.

According to police, the fire erupted at around 1:45 AM, when many guests were inside the hotel. Five fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the spot, while police and Disaster Management Department teams joined the rescue operation.

Dense Smoke Hampers Rescue

The intense blaze sent thick smoke through the hotel, making it extremely difficult for firefighters to access the upper floors through the staircases. Police have confirmed nine deaths so far and warned that the toll could increase as rescue teams continue searching the building.

The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Firefighters have managed to bring the flames under control, and cooling operations are underway.

Authorities are now focused on ensuring that no one remains trapped inside the building and determining what caused the fire. The incident has also raised concerns because the West Bengal Fire Services headquarters is located close to the hotel.

Second Major Hotel Fire in West Bengal in Three Days

The Kolkata tragedy comes just days after another deadly hotel fire in Tarapith, Birbhum district, where nine people were killed early Monday morning.

Among those killed were five members of a family from Meghalaya. Police have detained two people, including hotel owner Kalyan Pal, as investigators examine possible violations of fire-safety norms.

The Tarapith fire began at around 4:30 AM on the ground floor of a four-storey hotel while most guests were asleep. The flames spread rapidly, while thick smoke engulfed the upper floors and trapped several people inside their rooms. At the time, around 43 guests were staying at the hotel.

The back-to-back incidents have once again raised serious questions over fire-safety preparedness and emergency evacuation measures in hotels across West Bengal.