A devastating fire swept through a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street (Free School Street) near the New Market area in central Kolkata around 2 am, leaving nine people dead and six others hospitalized due to severe smoke inhalation. The tragedy unfolded during the early morning hours, trapping several guests inside as flames rapidly spread across four rooms of the hotel. Disaster response teams, alongside four fire engines, rushed to the location to bring the inferno under control and carry out overnight rescue operations.
Among those trapped, nine individuals were evacuated unconscious from the building and immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where all nine were reported deceased. Preliminary details indicate that the deceased include six men, two women, and a child, several of whom were Bangladeshi nationals visiting Kolkata for medical treatment. Many panicked guests fled to the roof of the building as thick toxic smoke filled the corridors, rendering the victims unconscious in their sleep before they could escape. According to police, 60 people were rescued from the inferno.
Authorities suspect that an air conditioner malfunction or blast initially triggered the blaze before it engulfed adjacent rooms. The police have cordoned off the hotel premises, while the owner remains untraceable and the hotel manager has been detained for detailed questioning regarding safety protocols. Meanwhile, official confirmation and detailed statements from the local administration and hospital authorities are awaited as investigations continue.