The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has opened a 24-hour helpline to assist families of victims affected in the Hotel Shikha Inn fire on Mirza Galib Street on Wednesday.
Out of the nine people who killed, five people are confirmed to be Bangladeshi nationals. Four of them, including a toddler, are from the same family belonging to Kushtia in Bangladesh while one is from Dhaka. They were identified as Akram Ali, 74, Debashish Dutta, 39, Afshana Shirmin, 27, and Swarnashish Dutta aged two years and eight months. The fifth Bangladeshi victim was identified as Babu Ahmed, 37.
Two other identified victims were Sandip Paswan, 19, from Bihar and Yog Narayan Aggarwal, 68, from Siliguri. The identities of two others remain unconfirmed.
Six injured people were discharged after getting primary treatment at hospital. Identification of other bodies is under process.
“Our helplines will be open for those who need assistance and we are trying to assist their loved ones. Once the dead bodies have been identified, we will repatriate the bodies to Bangladesh,” said Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Khalid.
“We are getting calls from family members. Our external affairs minister is also in touch. We are keeping them apprised.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Governor R.N. Ravi expressed condolences earlier in the day.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives in the fire mishap in the Mirza Ghalib Street area of Kolkata. My deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and prayers for the swift recovery of those injured,” the governor said in a statement.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has sent an inspection team after a probe was launched by the buildings department to ascertain violations and look at ways to strictly enforce laws under various provisions. The report will be placed by August 25. There are 16 teams delegated for each borough which was already part of an earlier audit team.
“We have initiated an inspection audit within the KMC area. These incidents cannot be taking place frequently. This has to be looked at unscrupulously. Under section 199, we will close wherever the NOC is not found and where deviations are found. We will close them,” said KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey.
The trade licence of Hotel Shikha Inn has already been revoked.
