Deadly fire sweeps through Indian budget hotel, 9 killed
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- Air conditioner explosion suspected in deadly blaze.
- Six men, two women and child killed.
- Bangladeshi nationals among reported victims.
A fire at a budget hotel in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata left at least nine people dead and several others injured early on Wednesday.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of the morning, trapping guests as heavy smoke spread rapidly through the facility.
"Nine people were killed, including a child, in the fire that broke out early on Wednesday," Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, told AFP. "Thick smoke enveloped the hotel. Some victims were found in the bathrooms."
A total of 60 guests were staying inside the building when the fire erupted. Emergency personnel rescued nine people—comprising six men, two women, and one child—and transferred them to a hospital for treatment.
VIDEO | Kolkata hotel fire: West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul reaches the spot to take stock of the situation.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 19, 2026
At least nine people, including a four-year-old child, died and six were injured in an early Wednesday fire at a dingy five-storey building on Mirza Galib Street in… pic.twitter.com/P7mc9IiFVy
Air conditioner explosion
Preliminary investigations point to a mechanical failure as the likely catalyst for the tragedy. According to fire services director Anuj Sharma, initial details suggest that an air conditioner unit inside the hotel may have exploded, igniting the blaze.
Local officials indicated that foreign travelers were among those caught in the disaster. Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal's ruling party, told reporters that some of the victims appeared to be Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled to Kolkata to receive medical treatment.
"We are trying to confirm the nationality of the victims," Pathak stated to reporters.
Building fires remain a frequent occurrence across India, driven by a widespread lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations.
