14 dead in Kolkata hotel fire, SIT probe launched
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Kolkata: At least 14 people died in a devastating fire that broke out at the Rituraj Hotel in central Kolkata on Tuesday evening. The fire, which started around 7:30 pm, claimed most lives due to suffocation, while one individual reportedly died after falling from the building in an attempt to escape.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma confirmed the death toll and stated that the fire was brought under control by 1 am on Wednesday, after ten fire engines were deployed to the site. Verma also confirmed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the cause of the fire and assess the safety measures in place. The probe will also look into the challenges faced by the guests during the evacuation process.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest that many of the victims were guests trapped in their rooms when the blaze started. The Rituraj Hotel, located above a commercial storage facility, has five floors of accommodation. The fire spread rapidly through the building, filling the hotel with thick smoke and trapping those inside.
In response to the tragedy, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar called on the state administration to urgently assist the victims and review fire safety protocols. "I urge the state administration to immediately rescue those affected, ensure their safety, and provide necessary medical and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, I appeal for a thorough review and stricter monitoring of fire safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future," Majumdar posted on social media.
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also blamed illegal construction and government negligence for the disaster. "There is illegal construction everywhere. The government is corrupt and permits illegal building activities. This incident is tragic, and the government must enforce proper safety regulations," Ghosh told IANS.
The incident has raised serious concerns about building safety standards and the enforcement of fire safety regulations in Kolkata.
With IANS inputs
