The blaze broke out at about 2 am on August 19 in the busy central Kolkata neighbourhood, formerly known as Free School Street, near New Market. Several of those killed were Bangladeshi citizens who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment and were staying in hotels in the area.
Firefighters, police and disaster-management teams mounted a large rescue operation after the alarm was raised. Fire crews used ladders and broke windows to reach occupants as smoke spread rapidly through the five-storey building, which housed more than one hotel.
At least 80 people were rescued from the building during the operation. Six injured people were taken to hospitals for treatment, while nine victims were declared dead after being brought out of the premises.
The narrow building and dense smoke complicated evacuation, particularly for guests on the upper floors. Many occupants had been asleep when the fire started, leaving them little time to react as smoke entered rooms and corridors.
Investigators were examining whether an electrical fault triggered the blaze. Initial accounts pointed to a possible short circuit or malfunction involving an air-conditioning unit, but authorities had not established the precise cause by Wednesday morning.
Questions also emerged over fire-safety arrangements at the property. Preliminary inspections indicated possible deficiencies in emergency exits, ventilation and firefighting infrastructure. Investigators were expected to determine whether the building possessed the required clearances and whether its safety systems complied with regulations.
Mirza Ghalib Street runs through one of central Kolkata’s most crowded commercial and accommodation districts. The neighbourhood contains numerous small and mid-sized hotels, restaurants and shops and is particularly popular with visitors from Bangladesh because of its proximity to hospitals, transport links and the New Market shopping district.
Medical travel from Bangladesh has traditionally supported a substantial part of the neighbourhood’s hotel economy. Patients and accompanying relatives frequently stay around New Market, Park Street and adjoining central Kolkata districts while undergoing consultations or treatment at hospitals across the city.
The deaths therefore brought an international dimension to the disaster, with the identities and nationalities of the victims being verified and arrangements being made to inform relatives. Officials were also working to establish the circumstances in which each victim became trapped.
The fire was reported only a short distance from the headquarters of the West Bengal fire services, allowing emergency crews to reach the area quickly. Five fire engines were involved at different stages of the response, while police cordoned off sections of the street to allow rescue personnel to operate.
Despite the rapid deployment, firefighters encountered heavy smoke inside the building. Poor visibility and restricted movement through narrow passages made it difficult to reach some occupants. Several survivors suffered from smoke inhalation, which can become fatal before flames directly reach victims.
Wednesday’s disaster came two days after another deadly hotel fire at Tarapith in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. At least seven people were killed there after flames swept through a hotel while many guests were sleeping, placing renewed scrutiny on fire-safety compliance across the state’s hospitality sector.
The two fires within days of each other have increased pressure on authorities to examine evacuation arrangements, electrical installations and fire-control equipment at hotels, particularly older establishments operating from congested buildings.
Kolkata has suffered several major building fires over the years, with investigations repeatedly focusing on blocked exits, electrical problems, combustible interiors and difficulties faced by emergency crews in densely built neighbourhoods. Central districts containing ageing properties converted into hotels or commercial premises pose particular challenges because staircases and access routes can be narrow.
