Kolkata Hotel Fire: A tragic fire broke out during the early hours of Wednesday at a multi-storey building housing several budget guest houses on Mirza Ghalib Street (popularly known as Free School Street) in central Kolkata.
According to official reports, the blaze claimed at least nine lives, including a four-year-old child, while several others suffered injuries. Emergency personnel managed to rescue dozens of trapped occupants as dense smoke quickly engulfed the premises.
Midnight Horror on Free School Street
Kolkata Hotel Fire: According to media reports, the blaze began around 1:45 AM to 2:00 AM on Wednesday when most of the hotel residents were asleep.
The five-storey structure housed multiple guest houses that cater extensively to domestic visitors as well as travelers arriving from neighbouring Bangladesh for medical treatments and commercial visits.
Firefighters and disaster management teams rushed to the location shortly after receiving the emergency alert. According to news sources, five fire tenders were immediately deployed to battle the flames.
However, rescue workers faced immense difficulties reaching the upper floors due to thick, toxic smoke filling the narrow staircases and hallways. Firefighters had to use external ladders and break open window panels to pull unconscious occupants to safety.
Casualties and Victims Identified
Kolkata Hotel Fire: Official reports state that around 60 to 80 people were successfully evacuated from the building during the joint operation conducted by the police, civil defence, and fire department.
Nine individuals comprising six adult males, two females, and one four-year-old child were found unconscious inside the structure and rushed to the nearby Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
Fire Department Minister Koushik Chowdhury visited the site to oversee the situation. According to media reports citing Minister Chowdhury, the deceased include both Indian citizens and Bangladeshi nationals.
Authorities are currently working with diplomatic representatives and family members to complete the formal identification process and perform necessary procedures.
| Event Details | Key Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Mirza Ghalib Street (Free School Street), Central Kolkata |
| Time of Incident | Around 1:45 AM–2:00 AM, Wednesday |
| Confirmed Deceased | 9 people — 6 males, 2 females and 1 child |
| Rescued Occupants | Approximately 60–80 people |
| Suspected Cause | Electrical short circuit / AC explosion |
| Key Safety Issues | Lack of firefighting equipment, blocked emergency exits and heavy smoke accumulation |
Severe Safety Negligence Alleged
In the aftermath of the incident, officials and surviving guests raised sharp concerns over building compliance.
Speaking to the press at the scene, Minister Koushik Chowdhury stated that the condition inside the structure was extremely poor and pointed out that basic safety norms appeared to have been bypassed.
According to media reports citing Chowdhury, preliminary assessments point toward an electrical short circuit or an air conditioner compressor unit blast as the potential trigger, though forensic teams have been called in to establish the exact cause.
Survivors recount a chaotic scene with no functional fire alarms or suppression systems in place. According to news sources covering survivor statements, guests woke up suffocating from thick black smoke without any clear emergency escape route available.
Minister Chowdhury noted that the establishment operated with multiple structural irregularities and lacked necessary emergency infrastructure, adding that stern administrative measures would follow.
Police Action and Owner Absconding
According to police sources, an official case has been registered at the local New Market Police Station. The owner of the building and the hotel management are currently absconding to evade arrest.
Law enforcement authorities have launched raids across multiple locations and residences to trace the owner and hotel managers responsible for operations.
Meanwhile, forensic experts and structural engineers are assessing the building to check its structural stability while cooling operations continue.
High-level officials, including Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, are scheduled to visit the site to inspect the ground situation and meet with affected families.
Administrative inquiries have been ordered to verify how multiple commercial guest houses were functioning within the same premises without valid fire safety clearances.