Kolkata Hotel Fire Claims 9 Lives, Several Injured

A massive fire broke out at a hotel on Free School Street in Kolkata’s New Market area in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving nine people dead and six others injured.

Preliminary information suggests that all nine deceased were Bangladeshi nationals. The victims reportedly died of suffocation after being trapped inside the hotel amid the blaze and thick smoke.

The fire reportedly broke out at around 2 a.m. after which fire brigade personnel and emergency service teams rushed to the spot. Rescue and firefighting operations were launched immediately.

Around 80 people staying inside the hotel were safely evacuated. The six injured persons were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire and assess the circumstances that led to the deaths.