Kolkata Hotel Blaze Claims 14 Lives, Police Confirm

In a tragic incident, a devastating fire engulfed a hotel in Kolkata, eastern India, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 individuals, as per statements made by the local police on Wednesday. Senior officer Manoj Kumar Verma disclosed that the fire erupted on Tuesday night at the Rituraj Hotel, situated in the heart of Kolkata. After battling the flames with six fire engines, the blaze was finally extinguished. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this point.

Indian media outlets have circulated photographs and video footage depicting scenes of people desperately attempting to flee through windows and precarious ledges of the hotel structure.

According to The Telegraph, a publication based in Kolkata, one of the fatalities occurred when an individual leaped from a hotel balcony in a desperate escape attempt.

Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared on social media platform X his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life due to the incident.

Incidents of fire are not uncommon across India, a consequence of widespread non-compliance with building regulations and safety standards by both constructors and residents. Safety campaigners have long criticized the practice of compromising on safety measures to reduce costs, pointing fingers at civic bodies for their negligence and lack of proactive measures.

Reflecting on past tragedies, at least 27 lives were lost in 2022 when a colossal fire swept through a four-story commercial establishment in New Delhi.