India Hotel Inferno Claims 15 Lives, Including Children
At least 15 people, including two children and a woman, have died after a fierce fire gutted a hotel in Kolkata, India.
The fire broke out on Tuesday evening, at the Rituraj Hotel, located in a congested commercial area of central Kolkata.
According to Kolkata Police Chief, Manoj Verma, the blaze turned the building into a “gas chamber”, and many victims are believed to have died from suffocation.
“Several people were rescued from rooms and the rooftop,” Verma said, confirming that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Reports say the hotel had 88 guests at the time of the incident.
About a dozen people were injured and are receiving treatment for burns.
Witnesses told local media that people were seen climbing out of windows and trying to escape using narrow ledges.
One person reportedly died after jumping from the terrace.
The Press Trust of India captured footage of the towering flames, while The Telegraph reported scenes of panic among guests.
Verma confirmed the fire had been extinguished and that cooling operations were ongoing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Fires like this are common in India due to poor safety measures and a lack of fire-fighting infrastructure.
In a similar incident last year, six people died in a hotel fire in Patna, Bihar.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
