Kolkata Hotel Fire Claims 14 Lives, Prompts Investigation and Relief Measures

Kolkata : A tragic fire at a hotel in central Kolkata’s Mechuapatti area claimed the lives of 14 people, including a woman and two children, on Tuesday evening, according to police reports. The blaze, which injured 13 others, has prompted a swift response from authorities, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing financial aid and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordering a probe into the incident.

The fire broke out around 7:30 pm at the Rituraj Hotel on Madanmohan Street in the bustling Burrabazar area. Ten fire engines were deployed, and the flames were brought under control by 1 am on Wednesday. The hotel, situated above a commercial godown, housed 88 guests across 42 rooms at the time of the incident. Among the deceased were 11 men, eight of whom have been identified, with several of the injured reported to be in critical condition.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences via a post on X from the Prime Minister’s Office, stating, “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Kolkata. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.” He announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Chief Minister Banerjee, who was in Digha for an inauguration event, monitored the situation closely, coordinating with Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma and Mayor Firhad Hakim to ensure rescue efforts were prioritized. The Kolkata Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined. A forensic team has been tasked with examining the site, which has been cordoned off.