KOLKATA, Aug 19 (Alliance News): At least nine people, including a child, were killed after a fire ripped through a hotel in the Indian city of Kolkata early Wednesday, with authorities suspecting that a faulty air conditioner may have caused the blaze.
West Bengal Fire Services Director Anuj Sharma said the victims died after thick smoke engulfed the hotel, with some found inside bathrooms. Preliminary information suggested that an air conditioner at the budget Shika Inn hotel may have exploded and triggered the fire.
A forensic team was deployed to examine the scene after firefighters brought the blaze under control. Police said around 60 guests were staying at the hotel, while local media reported that six people were injured and taken to hospital.
Some of the victims were believed to be Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. West Bengal ruling party member Santosh Pathak said authorities were working to confirm their nationalities, while Indian Express, citing police sources, reported that three of those killed were from Bangladesh.
A Bangladeshi guest, Atiyar Rehman, told the newspaper that the hotel had no fire safety system and said guests struggled to breathe because of the smoke before escaping.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths and said the local administration was assisting those affected. West Bengal Fire Minister Kaushik Chaudhary said police were investigating possible safety violations at the hotel.
Firefighters used ladders to enter the building through windows and rescue trapped guests as dense smoke made it difficult to reach the upper floors through the staircase.
The incident comes just days after eight people were killed in a hotel fire in Tarapith, another town in West Bengal.
