Nine dead, six injured in major hotel fire in central Kolkata

Emergency services responded swiftly to a major fire that erupted at a hotel in central Kolkata around 1:45 am on Wednesday. Five fire tenders were mobilized to combat the blaze, with personnel from the Police and Disaster Management Department arriving at the scene to coordinate rescue operations. The six injured individuals were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Thick smoke posed significant challenges to firefighting efforts, hampering access to the upper floors of the building. "Dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors," a police officer stated, noting that nine deaths had been confirmed while additional fatalities could not be ruled out.

Authorities prioritized the rescue of those trapped inside the building while simultaneously investigating the cause of the fire. "Our focus is on rescuing those trapped and determining the reasons for the fire," the officer said. By Wednesday morning, flames had been extinguished and cooling operations were underway to prevent any resurgence of the fire.

The incident occurred close to the West Bengal Fire Department headquarters, which is situated in the vicinity of the affected hotel building. A full investigation into the circumstances and origin of the fire has been initiated.