Kolkata Hotel Fire Claims 9 Lives, Police Set Up SIT to Probe Tragedy

Kolkata, August 19, 2026; A major fire at a hotel complex on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata claimed nine lives, including that of a child, early Wednesday, prompting Kolkata Police to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to determine how the blaze started and whether safety regulations were followed.

The fire broke out around 2 am, when a large number of people were inside the building. Police, firefighters and other emergency personnel launched a prolonged rescue operation after receiving information about the incident at New Market Police Station.

Officials said nearly 60 people were brought out of the building during the operation. Nine occupants, including two women and a child, were later found unconscious and taken to Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Preliminary information suggested that smoke inhalation may have contributed to the deaths, although authorities have not yet established the precise cause of the blaze. Investigators have secured the site and are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The formation of the SIT is expected to focus on several aspects of the case, including the origin of the fire, compliance with fire-safety requirements, permissions granted to hotels operating from the premises and possible lapses that may have hindered evacuation.

West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul, who visited the affected area, said the government was considering a citywide inspection of hotels to determine whether establishments possess the necessary permits and fire clearances. She raised concerns over the presence of several hotels operating within the same building, with rooms described as small and congested.

Paul said the administration would take appropriate action if violations were detected. She also said authorities were verifying the identities of those staying at the premises, with the police expected to establish the facts as part of their investigation.

State Minister Tapas Roy also called for inspections of hotels operating without mandatory approvals or adequate safety arrangements. He said authorities would examine similar establishments in congested parts of Kolkata and adopt strict measures against violations.

Minister Kaushik Chaudhary said the number of casualties could have been considerably higher without the timely intervention of rescue teams. He said authorities were still working to establish what triggered the blaze and assured that strict action would follow if negligence or violations were established.

Fire Brigade personnel, police teams and CESC officials were mobilised soon after the emergency was reported. Rescue workers faced difficult conditions while evacuating occupants from the building, but managed to bring dozens of people to safety.

Police said the situation at the location remained under control, with additional personnel deployed to prevent any further disruption. The building has been secured as investigators continue collecting evidence.

The Kolkata tragedy occurred shortly after another fatal hotel fire in West Bengal. On Monday, eight people were killed and several others sustained injuries in a fire at a hotel in Tarapith in Birbhum district. Authorities had indicated that a suspected short circuit may have been responsible for that incident.

With two fatal hotel fires reported in the state within days, attention is now turning towards fire-safety compliance and emergency preparedness at hotels operating in densely populated areas. The SIT probe is expected to establish the immediate cause of the Kolkata fire and determine whether any safety or regulatory violations contributed to the deaths.