14 people have died in massive fire in a Kolkata hotel on Tuesday night. Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma has confirmed the death of 14 people in a fire that broke out in a hotel in the city's busiest Burrabazar area. Speaking to reporters, he said that a team has been formed to find out the cause of the fire. Prima facie, the fire appears to have erupted near the electric meters.
The fire has been brought under control. The fire brigade and rescue workers have evacuated about a dozen people. This area is in the middle of the city's largest fruit market.
The Police Commissioner said that 'A fire broke out at Rituraj Hotel located in Machhua area at 8.15 pm on Tuesday night. The fire has been brought under control. The rescue operation has been completed.'
Many people tried to escape from the fire through the windows
According to media reports, eyewitnesses said that many people were seen trying to escape from the fire through the windows. Two people were injured while trying to jump from the fourth floor. One hotel staff member died after jumping from the roof in an attempt to escape the blaze
West Bengal BJP state president and Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region Sukanta Majumdar has expressed grief over this incident.
He has appealed to the state administration to thoroughly review and strictly monitor fire safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents in future.
At the same time, West Bengal Congress state president Shubhankar Sarkar has criticized the Kolkata Corporation. He said, "This is a sad incident... I don't know what the corporation is doing."