“This fire incident took place at around 8:15 p.m. at the premises of Rituraj Hotel. Fourteen bodies have been recovered, and several people have been rescued by the teams,” said Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma while addressing the media.
Verma added that the fire had been brought under control and that a rescue and investigation operation was ongoing. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined.
Fire traps employees, guests; rescuers use ladders to reach them
The fire reportedly spread rapidly through the building, trapping several guests and staff members inside. Firefighters used ladders and breathing equipment to reach people stranded on upper floors, many of whom were reportedly asleep when the fire started.
The tragedy has triggered a political uproar, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress targeting the West Bengal government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for alleged lapses in fire safety enforcement. “I urge the state administration to immediately rescue those affected, ensure their safety, and provide them with necessary medical and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, I appeal for a thorough review and stricter monitoring of fire safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future,” said Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar in a statement on X.
Echoing similar concerns, West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar criticised the civic authorities over the lack of safety measures.
“This is a tragic incident. A fire broke out…A lot of people are still stuck in the building. There was no safety or security…I don’t know what the corporation is doing,” Sarkar told news agency ANI.
