At least nine people, including a child, were killed and several others injured after a devastating fire swept through a residential hotel in central Kolkata in the early hours of Wednesday, 19 August. Authorities and local media report that the deceased were primarily Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled to the city for medical treatment.

The fire broke out between 1:45 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. at the Shikha Inn, located on Mirza Ghalib Street (also known as Free School Street) near the densely populated New Market area. The hotel is situated in a five-storey building that houses several different hotels on various floors.

Kolkata Police confirmed that nine individuals, including a minor, were found unconscious and later declared dead at a nearby hospital. The victims reportedly include six men, two women, and one child. While most victims were identified as Bangladeshi, one was reported to be a resident of Jharkhand.

Between six and eight people sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Kolkata Medical College Hospital and other local facilities.

Emergency responders, including fire tenders and a disaster management team, faced significant challenges during the operation. "The dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors," a police officer told news agencies. Despite the conditions, approximately 60 people were rescued from the building.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by an air-conditioner explosion on the third floor or an electrical short circuit.

Officials noted that the hotel lacked basic fire safety measures and featured narrow, inadequate entrances that hampered evacuation. Kolkata Police have registered a case and launched a search for the hotel’s owner and staff, who reportedly fled the scene following the incident.

The Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata has deployed officials, including Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Khaled, to hospitals to assist in identifying the victims. "We are yet to identify those killed or injured. It will take some time," said Omar Faruk, second secretary at the deputy high commission, noting that the area is a popular hub for Bangladeshi medical tourists.

This tragedy follows another fatal hotel fire in West Bengal just two days prior. On August 17, eight people were killed at Hotel Bideshini in the Tarapith area of Birbhum district.