Nine killed in Kolkata hotel fire

Nine killed in Kolkata hotel fire

At least nine people, including a child, died and six others suffered injuries after a fire broke out at a hotel in Kolkata, India.

According to Indian media reports, several of the victims were Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. The incident occurred during the early hours of the morning, when many guests were inside the hotel.

Local police said the fire started on the second floor of the hotel at around 2:50 a.m. local time. Firefighters and rescue teams responded quickly and brought the blaze under control within an hour.

Authorities rescued around 30 people from the building during the operation. Several guests reportedly had difficulty escaping because of the heavy smoke and flames inside the hotel.

At least six people sustained injuries in the incident and received medical attention. Officials have not yet released complete details about the condition of all the injured.

Initial investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire. Police and other relevant authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause and assess whether any safety violations contributed to the tragedy.

The deaths have raised fresh concerns about fire safety measures in hotels and other buildings in densely populated areas of Kolkata.