Four of Bangladeshi family among nine killed in Kolkata hotel fire

KOLKATA: Nine individuals, including a four-year-old child, were killed in a fire that swept through a five-storey building housing a number of hotels on Mirza Ghalib Street in Kolkata's New Market area early Wednesday, police noted.

Key points

• Among the Bangladeshi victims were journalist Debashis Dutta, his wife Afsana Sarmin, their four-year-old son Swarnashis Dutta and Afsana's father Mohammad Akram.
• Five of the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals, according to Kolkata Police and the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.
• Authorities of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission visited the site and hospitals after the fire and identified the deceased Bangladeshi nationals.
• Dutta and his family had arrived in India on August 3 for medical treatment for his son and father-in-law at a hospital in Bengaluru.
• Fire and Emergency Services personnel rescued around 80 individuals from the building after receiving the emergency call.

Five of the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals, according to Kolkata Police and the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. Four of the Bangladeshi victims belonged to the same family.

Notably, the fire broke out at the building in the early hours of Wednesday, triggering a major rescue operation. A number of other residents, including Bangladeshi nationals, were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

Among the Bangladeshi victims were journalist Debashis Dutta, his wife Afsana Sarmin, their four-year-old son Swarnashis Dutta and Afsana's father Mohammad Akram. The family were residents of Kushtia in Bangladesh. The fifth victim was identified as Babu Ahmed of Aminbazar in Dhaka.

Dutta and his family had arrived in India on August 3 for medical treatment for his son and father-in-law at a hospital in Bengaluru. They reached Kolkata on August 18.

Authorities of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission visited the site and hospitals after the fire and identified the deceased Bangladeshi nationals. Six other Bangladeshi nationals who were injured were discharged after receiving primary treatment, according to the mission.

For context, the deputy high commission has contacted the families of the deceased and is coordinating with hospitals and local police to provide assistance to those affected. The mission has additionally opened a 24-hour helpline for Bangladeshi nationals affected by the incident.

Meanwhile, the fire has additionally raised questions over safety arrangements in the building. It housed a number of hotels and other establishments.

According to fire authorities, the blaze spread rapidly through the building, leaving occupants struggling to find ways to escape. Most of the victims are suspected to have died from smoke inhalation and asphyxiation, rather than burns.

Fire and Emergency Services personnel rescued around 80 individuals from the building after receiving the emergency call. A number of fire tenders were deployed to the site.

Authorities are examining whether the building and the hotels operating there had the required fire-safety clearances and other mandatory permissions. Police have additionally begun an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

Meanwhile, a forensic team examined the premises and collected evidence from the site. Investigators are additionally examining whether an electrical short circuit or another technical fault triggered the fire.

Notably, the incident has prompted scrutiny of fire-safety compliance among hotels and guest houses in Kolkata, particularly those operating from congested buildings with limited escape routes.

Notably, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry is additionally in contact with the relevant Indian authorities regarding the incident and assistance to the affected nationals.

For now, four of Bangladeshi family among nine killed in Kolkata hotel fire remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.