A devastating fire engulfed a hotel in Kolkata, India, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people, as reported by police on Wednesday.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of panic, with individuals attempting to escape by climbing out of windows and onto the rooftop.
The blaze erupted on Tuesday evening at the Rituraj Hotel, which housed 88 guests at the time.
Kolkata Police Chief Manoj Verma informed AFP that several individuals were rescued from the hotel’s rooms and roof following the fire.
“The death toll has reached 15, including two children and a woman. An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire,” Verma stated.
He further noted that the hotel had become akin to a “gas chamber,” leading many victims to succumb to smoke inhalation.
In addition to the fatalities, approximately a dozen people suffered burn injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Frequent building fires in India are often attributed to inadequate firefighting resources and a general neglect of safety regulations.
Last year, a similar incident in Patna, Bihar, resulted in the deaths of six individuals.
According to reports from the Press Trust of India, dramatic footage showed flames erupting from the building, with several people attempting to flee through windows and narrow ledges.
FCNN learnt that at least one individual died after jumping from the terrace in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
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Verma confirmed that firefighting efforts had successfully controlled the blaze, with cooling operations now in progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the victims’ families and expressed hope for the swift recovery of those injured, as conveyed in a statement from his office.
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and a bustling metropolis of over 15 million residents, is governed by the opposition Trinamool Congress party.
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