At least nine people, all reportedly Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment, were killed after a fire broke out at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata in the early hours of Wednesday. Several others were injured in the incident.
According to fire department sources, the blaze broke out around 2 am. Five fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames, while police and disaster management personnel reached the spot to carry out rescue operations.
"The dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors. While nine people have died, more deaths are feared," a police officer told PTI.
"Our priority is to rescue those trapped and determine the reasons for the fire. The flames have been doused, and the cooling process is underway," he added.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained though initial reports suggest the blaze may have been triggered by an air-conditioner explosion.
The incident comes just two days after another major hotel fire in West Bengal. On Monday, eight people were killed and several others injured after a fire, allegedly caused by a short circuit, broke out at a hotel in Tarapith in Birbhum district.
The blaze spread to the second floor, while thick smoke engulfed the upper floors, trapping several guests in their rooms. Many of the hotel guests were pilgrims who had travelled to Tarapith to offer prayers on the last Monday of the holy month of 'Shravan'.
