Kolkata Fire:Nine Bangladeshi nationals died and six others got injured due to a massive fire at a hotel in Kolkata's Mirza Ghalib street in the early hours of Wednesday. The Bangladeshi citizens had arrived in Bengal for medical treatment and were staying in the hotel when the tragic incident occurred, the fire department informed. The officials stated that the injured people were rushed to a local hospital, adding that more deaths are feared.
Flames Under Control: Bengal Police
The West Bengal police, while providing details, stated that five fire tenders were immediately deployed at the site to control the flames, reported the news agency PTI. Police and Disaster Management Department personnel also arrived at the spot for the rescue operation. The officials stated that the rescue operation was difficult due to the dense smoke, adding that the flames have now been doused.
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"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 was quoted as saying by 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.
60 People Rescued
Panic erupted after a fire broke out on the third floor of the hotel around 2 am. The narrow passageways hampered fire engines' access. The reports suggest that the rescue teams have rescued more than 60 people safely.
As per the initial reports, the fire may have been caused by an explosion in an air-conditioner; however, the exact reason behind the incident is yet to be confirmed. The incident comes just two days after a deadly fire broke out at a hotel in West Bengal's Birbhum district. At least eight people were killed and several others injured in a fire at Hotel Videshini in Tarapith on the morning of August 17.