KOLKATA – At least nine people, including a child and several Bangladeshi nationals, were killed and six others were injured after a fire broke out at a hotel in Kolkata, the Indian authorities said on Wednesday.
The fire erupted at around 2:50am local time on the second floor of the hotel, according to police. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control within an hour.
Around 30 people were rescued from the building during the emergency operation, officials said.
The local authorities said some of the victims were Bangladeshi citizens who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment.
The incident raised renewed concerns over fire safety measures in hotels and other densely occupied buildings in the city.
A preliminary assessment showed that the fire may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.
The officials have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the blaze and establish whether any safety regulations were violated.
