#JUSTIN: Kolkata Hotel Fire Kills Nine, Owner and Staff on The Run

At least nine people, including a child, were killed after a major fire broke out at a hotel on Free School Street near New Market in Kolkata early Wednesday. The blaze erupted at around 2 am, trapping several guests inside the building and prompting a large-scale rescue operation. Among those who died were Bangladeshi nationals who had reportedly travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment, according to news agency ANI.

The fire department said the blaze may have started after an air-conditioner exploded, although the exact cause has not yet been confirmed. Initial information indicated that the fire broke out on the third floor before spreading through parts of the hotel. Thick smoke rapidly filled the building, making it difficult for guests to escape and creating challenging conditions for firefighters attempting to reach people trapped on the upper floors.

Firefighters were alerted to the incident at around 2:07 am, following which four fire tenders were sent to the location. A disaster management team also joined the emergency response as firefighters worked to evacuate guests from the building. Around 60 people were rescued during the operation, while nine people were found unconscious and later declared dead after being taken to hospital. One of the deceased was identified as a resident of Jharkhand.

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Preliminary investigations have also raised concerns over the hotel's fire safety arrangements. Authorities said the establishment appeared to lack basic fire safety measures, although the full findings are expected to emerge as the investigation continues. Kolkata Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and launched a search for the hotel's owner and staff members, who are reportedly absconding following the deadly fire.

The Kolkata incident came shortly after another fatal hotel fire in West Bengal. On August 17, at least eight people were killed and several others injured when a fire broke out at Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith, Birbhum district. The blaze began around 4:30 am on the ground floor while many guests were asleep. Five members of a family from Meghalaya, including two children, were among those killed in that incident.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Kolkata fire, including the suspected air-conditioner blast and the hotel's reported safety deficiencies. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after carrying out rescue operations inside the smoke-filled building. Officials are also working to establish the identities of all the victims and determine whether further safety violations contributed to the loss of life.

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