Amal Sarker,Kolkata; Dbarta24 — A massive fire tore through a hotel in central Kolkata’s bustling New Market area late last night, killing at least nine people—all identified by police as Bangladeshi nationals—and leaving eight others critically injured.
The tragic blaze broke out around 1:45 AM on the second floor of “Hotel Shikhein,” a five-story commercial structure located on Mirza Ghalib Street (formerly Free School Street).
Most of the victims were Bangladeshi citizens visiting the West Bengal capital for medical treatment.
Panic and Entrapment in Toxic Smoke
According to surviving guests, thick, suffocating smoke rapidly engulfed the hallways, trapping sleep-deprived residents inside their rooms.
“The smoke filled the entire hotel within minutes, making it impossible to see or breathe,” said Md. Rafiqul Islam, a guest who managed to escape.
He highlighted severe safety deficiencies in the building, noting, “The entrance and exits were extremely narrow, and there was a complete lack of basic fire safety equipment.”
The eight injured individuals were rushed to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital and nearby medical facilities, where several remain in critical condition.
Proximity to Fire HQ Saved Lives, But Questions Remain
Ironically, the building sits in close proximity to the Kolkata Fire Service headquarters.
Firefighters reacted swiftly upon receiving the alarm, bringing the blaze under control and launching a frantic rescue operation to evacuate trapped occupants.
Preliminary investigations by the fire department suggest an electrical short circuit on the second floor triggered the inferno.
However, authorities are yet to release the official identities of the deceased or confirm the exact number of guests checked into the facility at the time of the incident.
Unregulated Lodgings Under Scrutiny
The tragedy has brought renewed scrutiny to the dense network of budget lodgings in the New Market area.
Local residents revealed that the five-story building housed multiple independent residential hotels operating under different names across its floors.
These budget hotels primarily cater to cross-border travelers from Bangladesh, particularly those arriving on medical visas.
Locals allege that many of these establishments operate without mandatory fire safety clearances or building code compliance, creating severe hazards in high-density areas.
An investigation into the building’s licensing, safety compliance, and the exact cause of the fire is currently underway by local law enforcement and disaster management teams.