A deadly fire that broke out at a hotel in the Mechuapatti area of central Kolkata on Tuesday evening claimed the lives of 15 individuals, including a woman and two children, according to senior police officials. Thirteen others sustained injuries, several of whom are in a critical condition.
The blaze was reported around 7:30 p.m. and brought under control nearly 10 hours later, by Wednesday morning, a senior official from the fire and emergency services said. Ten fire tenders were deployed to combat the flames, which rapidly spread through the building.
“There were 88 guests in 42 rooms at the time of the incident. A boy, a girl and a woman are among the dead. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Our forensic team will examine the site, which has been cordoned off,” a senior Kolkata Police officer said.
The officer added that among the deceased were 11 men, of whom eight have been identified so far. State minister Sujit Bose said, “There were 15 fatalities in last night’s fire. Eight of the deceased have been identified.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was informed of the incident, called Mayor Firhad Hakim and directed him to proceed to the spot immediately, accompanied by the police commissioner. Local Trinamool Congress leaders confirmed the CM’s involvement and her prompt instructions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced financial compensation for the victims of the devastating fire that broke out at a hotel in Barabazar, Kolkata, killing 15 people—including two children, a woman, and 12 men. According to an official statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has declared that the families of the deceased will receive ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Additionally, ₹50,000 will be provided to each of the injured individuals to aid in their treatment.
The tragedy struck in other ways as well. According to officials, a hotel staffer died after jumping from the building in panic.
The Kolkata Police have since constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire. The exact cause of the blaze remains unknown.
In the political aftermath of the tragedy, West Bengal BJP president and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of “insensitivity” for participating in a day-long inauguration event at Jagannath Dham in Digha while the incident was unfolding in the state capital.
“Yesterday, a devastating fire in the Mechhua area of Burrabazar claimed the lives of more than 14 innocent people. Many more are battling for their lives. Yet, the chief minister chose to remain silent and continued with her religious event in Digha,” Majumdar said in a strongly worded statement.
“This exposes her lack of empathy and the failure of her administration. While helpless citizens were trapped in flames and dying in pain, the CM was busy exploiting religion for political gain. Her year-round appeasement and election-time religious posturing have once again taken precedence over governance,” he alleged.
Majumdar also called upon BJP workers across the state to initiate relief efforts and support the bereaved families. “I will personally stand by the affected families and oversee our party's involvement in the rescue and relief operations,” he added.
West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar also criticised the civic authorities. Speaking to ANI, he said, “This is a tragic incident. A fire broke out... A lot of people are still stuck in the building. There was no safety or security... I don't know what the corporation is doing.”
Authorities continue to assess the damage, and efforts are underway to ensure medical aid and assistance for the injured. Forensic teams are expected to begin their examination of the site shortly.
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