A terrible fire broke out at a hotel in one of Kolkata’s oldest and most crowded areas on Tuesday night, killing at least 15 people. The fire started around 7:30 pm at the Rituraj Hotel, which is located on Madanmohan Street in the Burrabazar area.

This part of the city is known for its narrow lanes and busy market. The hotel was built above a godown (warehouse) on the ground floor, and the upper five floors were used for guest rooms. Many people were staying in the hotel at the time of the fire.

The fire spread fast inside the building, and most of the people who died could not leave their rooms. Thick smoke filled the stairs and hallways, trapping the guests, according to the police. Many people died because they could not breathe properly. One man named Sanjoy Paswan died after falling from the building while trying to escape the fire.

Ten fire engines reached the hotel, and it took many hours to control the fire. The flames were finally put out around 1 am on Wednesday. After that, rescue teams and firefighters went to the upper floors. There, they found 13 bodies.

While the fire was spreading, some guests ran to the rooftop to save themselves. Others held on to the narrow ledges outside their windows. Firefighters used special ladders to rescue people stuck outside the building. Some people on the terrace used flashlights on their phones to show where they were. Loudspeakers were also used to talk to the people trapped inside and to help keep them calm during the rescue.

At the Kolkata Medical College Hospital, doctors confirmed that Sanjoy Paswan was dead when he arrived. Several others who were injured in the fire are still getting treatment at the hospital.

Investigation started, SIT formed

Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma said, “14 casualties have been reported so far. An SIT has been formed to probe the cause of the fire and to check the safety measures that were in place. The investigation will also look into the difficulties faced by the guests while evacuating from the building.”

State Women, Children and Social Welfare Minister Sashi Panja also responded to the tragedy. She said, “The majority of those staying in the hotel were from other states who had come for commercial activities. It is indeed a very unfortunate incident. The fire brigade tried to rescue all the boarders, but some of them unfortunately died because of suffocation. Two children were among those killed. Investigation is on, and we will soon know the exact cause of the blaze.”

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