At least nine people, including a child, lost their lives and several others were injured after a fire broke out at a hotel in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday, according to a senior fire department official.
Anuj Sharma, director of West Bengal’s fire services, told AFP that the blaze erupted early in the morning, filling the hotel with thick smoke and forcing some victims to seek refuge in bathrooms.
Preliminary investigations suggest that an air conditioner in the budget hotel may have exploded, sparking the deadly fire. Sharma said nine people—six men, two women, and a child—were rescued and hospitalized.
Some victims are believed to be Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled to Kolkata for medical treatment, according to Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal’s ruling party. Authorities are working to confirm the identities and nationalities of those affected.
There were 60 guests in the hotel at the time of the incident. Fires in buildings are unfortunately common in India, often due to inadequate firefighting equipment and frequent neglect of safety regulations.
Source: AFP
