Kolkata, August 19: Nine people lost their lives and six others sustained injuries when a devastating blaze tore through a central Kolkata hotel early Wednesday morning.
Disaster Management Department personnel and local police rushed to the scene alongside five fire tenders to control the inferno, which broke out around 1.45 am at the Mirza Galib Street property. Emergency responders immediately transported the injured survivors to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Dense smoke severely compromised the initial rescue effort by preventing firefighters from ascending the stairwell to reach higher levels. A police officer told PTI that while nine fatalities were confirmed, officers feared the death toll could increase as teams navigated the upper floors.
The official maintained that the immediate focus remained on rescuing any trapped individuals and investigating what triggered the outbreak. Emergency crews have since brought the main flames under control and are currently managing the cooling process.
