NEW DELHI — A devastating fire swept through a hotel located in the bustling city of Kolkata in eastern India, claiming the lives of at least 14 individuals, according to local police reports released on Wednesday.
Senior police official Manoj Kumar Verma addressed the media, revealing that the blaze erupted Tuesday evening at the Rituraj Hotel situated in the heart of Kolkata. The fire was eventually extinguished after a strenuous effort involving six fire engines, though the precise cause remains undetermined as of now.
Visual content shared by Indian media outlets depicted the harrowing scenes of people desperately attempting to make their way out of windows and precarious ledges in a bid to escape the intense flames.
According to reports from The Telegraph, a prominent Kolkata newspaper, one individual tragically lost his life while attempting to flee by jumping from the terrace.
The incident drew a reaction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to social media platform X to express his sorrow over the tragic loss of life resulting from the hotel fire.
Fires are an all-too-common occurrence in India, largely due to the widespread disregard for building regulations and safety standards by both builders and occupants. Critics highlight that builders frequently compromise on safety features to reduce costs, while civic bodies face accusations of negligence and indifference.
In a similar incident in 2022, a massive blaze claimed at least 27 lives when it engulfed a four-story commercial building in New Delhi.