At least nine dead in hotel fire in eastern India

A devastating fire in Kolkata, India, claimed the lives of at least nine individuals, all of whom are believed to be Bangladeshi nationals. The blaze erupted in the early hours of Wednesday morning in a hotel located on Mirza Ghalib Street, a central area near the bustling New Market.

Local firefighters and rescue services responded swiftly to the scene. According to a diplomat from the Bangladesh Mission in Kolkata, who cited local fire services, the nine deceased were Bangladeshi citizens. Official confirmation of their identities is still pending from the police. The fire started around 2:00 AM local time (20:30 GMT Tuesday).

The affected area is a common lodging point for many people traveling from neighboring Bangladesh for medical treatment, attracted by accessible prices and advanced hospital infrastructure. Rescue teams worked to evacuate trapped guests and extinguish the flames. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by emergency services.

This tragedy occurs just two days after a similar fatal hotel fire in Tarapith, a town in the same region, where at least eight people died due to a suspected short circuit. Such incidents are unfortunately frequent in India, often attributed to non-compliance with safety regulations, a lack of fire prevention equipment, and electrical system failures in buildings.

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The nine deceased were Bangladeshi nationals, although the police are still working on officially confirming their identities.