In the aftermath of the devastating fire that claimed 14 lives at a hotel in central Kolkata’s Burrabazar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to the site immediately upon returning from Digha, issuing urgent directives and lashing out at rampant negligence.
Standing at the charred remains of the building, Mamata ordered the immediate sealing of the hotel and voiced serious concern over the surrounding dilapidated structures.
Angered by the abundance of flammable materials strewn across the congested area, she said, “Why are there so many flammable materials? First, save your lives. I have not come here to ask for votes. Don’t vote for me — but for God’s sake, value your life.”
Pointing to a crumbling structure adjacent to the gutted hotel, Banerjee criticised residents' reluctance to vacate unsafe homes despite repeated government warnings. “These houses are death traps. If they collapse, everyone will ask what the government was doing. But if people refuse to move, should we force them out?” she asked.
Fire Minister Sujit Basu and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma had reached the site before Mamata’s arrival. Addressing them and other officials, she directed the formation of a high-level committee comprising the Kolkata Police, Fire Department and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
This committee, she instructed, must submit a comprehensive report within 15 days identifying all hazardous buildings, illegal constructions and places lacking fire safety mechanisms.
Expressing alarm over the deteriorating conditions in Burrabazar and Jorasanko, Mamata announced a 15-day ultimatum.
“We have pleaded enough. If there is no co-operation within 15 days, the government will take stern action,” she warned, adding, “We are not asking anyone to leave forever — just allow us three months to make the buildings safe. After that, you’ll be brought back.”
She also sent a strong message to political figures or vested interests who may attempt to block the government's efforts.
“If any public representative dares to oppose these safety measures, strict police action will follow. We will not tolerate interference,” she stated.
Describing the congested neighbourhood as a tinderbox filled with illegal constructions and combustible materials, Mamata said she had been monitoring the blaze throughout the night from Digha.
The fire brigade, she revealed, had to manoeuvre through collapsing buildings to carry out a risky rescue operation.
“Ninety lives were saved because our fire personnel risked their own. But there was no escape route for the smoke, no emergency water supply in the hotel. Two victims never made it to the stairs — they suffocated to death inside,” the Chief Minister shared grimly.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, glaring lapses in hotel management have emerged. The police have already arrested both the owner and the manager of the hotel. Addressing local hoteliers and business owners, Mamata stressed, “Hospitality is not just about profit. It is a matter of human life. No revenue can ever justify a lost life.”
The state government has announced financial relief — Rs 2 lakh to the families of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 to the injured. However, Banerjee emphasised that money can never equate to the value of a human life.
“Let this be a wake-up call. Safety is not optional — it is non-negotiable,” she said.
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