Nine Dead in Kolkata Hotel Fire, Including Bangladeshi Nationals

A major fire broke out at the Sikha Inn hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, leading to the deaths of nine individuals, including eight Bangladeshi nationals and one child. According to a senior fire department official, the fire is suspected to have originated from an explosion in an air conditioning unit.

Fire brigade sources indicate that the blaze began on the second floor of the five-story building, where multiple guest houses were operating. Thick smoke rapidly engulfed the premises, hindering escape efforts for guests inside the hotel.

Rescue operations involved five fire engines which were deployed to control the situation. In total, approximately 60 people were evacuated from the hotel, with some victims discovered in bathrooms, according to reports from rescue teams.

In a separate incident on Tuesday in Tarapith, another fire occurred at a private hotel, resulting in seven fatalities. Investigations into both fires are currently underway, although details regarding their causes remain unclear at this time.

The West Bengal fire services director, Anuj Sharma, confirmed that several individuals sustained injuries and received immediate medical attention following the incident in Kolkata. The focus has shifted to determining how the fire escalated and the overall safety measures in place at the hotel.

Authorities have stated that further investigations will continue to ascertain the circumstances surrounding both fires, as the community processes the tragedies that unfolded in quick succession.