Kolkata Hotel Fire Kills Nine, Including Child

The Cliff News | 19 August 2026

A tragic fire ripped through a five-storey building housing a hotel on Mirza Galib Street in central Kolkata early Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people. Among the victims was a four-year-old child, with six others sustaining injuries in the devastating blaze.

The incident occurred around 2 am, with the fire reportedly originating on the third floor of the multi-storied structure. This building accommodates numerous small hotels with compact rooms and is situated near the state fire services headquarters on Free School Street.

Rescue Operations and Casualties

Emergency services were swift to respond, with five fire tenders deployed to combat the inferno. Police and personnel from the Disaster Management Department were also present at the scene to conduct rescue operations. According to a senior official, approximately 80 people were successfully rescued from the building.

The majority of the deceased are believed to have succumbed to suffocation due to the heavy smoke generated by the fire. Many were found unconscious and were subsequently transported to the hospital. The identities of the victims are still being established, and the fatalities include both Indian and Bangladeshi nationals.

Official Statements and Site Visit

Ministers including Tapas Roy, Agnimitra Paul, and Kaushik Chowdhury, part of the Suvendu Adhikari cabinet, visited the affected site. Fire Services Minister Kaushik Chowdhury expressed his shock and dismay at the conditions within the building, noting the presence of multiple hotels.

“We are trying to establish their identities. The situation inside this building is very bad. There are several hotels inside this building. I am shocked to see what was going on here,” Chowdhury stated after his visit.

The minister also confirmed that the identities of those killed are yet to be definitively confirmed, and investigations are ongoing.

Tragic Coincidence with Previous Fire

This devastating fire comes less than 48 hours after a similar tragedy struck West Bengal. On Monday, nine pilgrims lost their lives in another hotel fire in Tarapith, Birbhum district, highlighting a disturbing trend of fire-related fatalities in accommodation establishments across the state.