- A fire broke out at the Sikha Inn, killing at least nine people including a child, after flames and thick smoke swept through the building.
- Around 60 people were rescued from the building, but nine were found unconscious and later confirmed dead in hospital.
- Kolkata Police have opened an investigation to trace the hotel's owner and staff, who have not been found since the fire broke out.
- All nine victims have been identified as Bangladeshi nationals who had come to India for medical treatment, according to the Fire Department.
- Investigators believe the fire first broke out on the third floor of the hotel and may have been sparked by an air conditioning unit exploding.
- Early checks by officials have suggested the hotel did not have basic fire safety measures in place.
- Footage from the morning after the fire showed the building completely burnt down, with reports indicating it lacked fire escape routes or extinguishers.
- The fire broke out on the second floor of the Sikha Inn, according to reports.
- Local media reports suggested the fire was triggered by an air conditioner explosion.
- Atiyar Rehman, a survivor, claimed there was no firefighting mechanism in the hotel, stating, 'We woke up struggling to breathe in the smoke. We somehow managed to escape.'
- This incident comes just two days after another deadly blaze in West Bengal's Birbhum district, which killed at least nine pilgrims.
A deadly fire erupted at the Sikha Inn in West Bengal around 2 a.m., leading to the tragic deaths of nine individuals, including a child.
Investigators suspect the fire originated from an exploding air conditioning unit on the third floor, with early reports indicating a lack of basic fire safety measures in the hotel.69
“We woke up struggling to breathe in the smoke. We somehow managed to escape,” recounted Atiyar Rehman, a survivor from Bangladesh.11
Approximately 60 guests were rescued, but nine were found unconscious and later died in the hospital. All victims were identified as Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled to India for medical treatment.
Local authorities have launched a manhunt for the hotel’s owner and staff, who have not been located since the incident.
This incident follows another deadly blaze in Birbhum district just two days prior, which also resulted in nine fatalities.12
Footage from the scene revealed the hotel was completely engulfed in flames, lacking essential safety features such as fire escape routes and extinguishers.8
The Kolkata Police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire, aiming to hold accountable those responsible for the apparent negligence.4
“The fire, believed to have been sparked by an air conditioning unit explosion, occurred at the Sikha Inn, which reportedly lacked basic fire safety measures. All nine victims were identified as Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled to India for medical treatment, prompting Kolkata Police to initiate a manhunt for the hotel's absconding owner.”
The Sun
The Independent
