A devastating fire tore through the Rituraj Hotel in central Kolkata’s Burrabazar area on Tuesday evening, leaving 14 people dead and several others critically injured. The tragic incident unfolded at the budget hotel located in Mechhuapatti, a densely packed commercial zone, claiming the lives of 11 men, a woman, a boy, and a girl, as confirmed by local authorities.
The fire reportedly broke out between 7:30 and 8:00 pm and rapidly engulfed the six-storey structure, which was housing 88 people across 42 rooms at the time. Witnesses and survivors described scenes of chaos and panic as thick black smoke quickly filled corridors and rooms, blinding guests and hotel staff and making escape extremely difficult.
Videos and images circulating on social media showed desperate guests leaning out of windows and clinging to narrow ledges in an attempt to escape the blaze. Some were seen screaming for help, while others risked their lives by jumping from upper floors. Among them was Manoj Paswas, a hotel staffer who died after leaping from one of the floors in panic.
One particularly heartbreaking account involved a young boy who was heard crying out for his mother before disappearing in the flames. Another man, in a bid to survive, jumped from the fourth floor and sustained serious leg fractures.
At least 10 fire engines were deployed to battle the inferno, with firefighters working tirelessly through the night to bring the flames under control by Wednesday morning. Despite the efforts, the loss of life was significant, and 13 more individuals remain hospitalized with injuries, some in critical condition.
Abdul Karim, a trader from Murshidabad who survived the fire, recounted the terrifying moments when the blaze began. “I was on the second floor when the power went out. I opened the door and saw smoke coming in. People were shouting and running. I tried to knock on other doors,” he told news agency PTI.
In response to the tragedy, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the cause of the fire. Police confirmed that the hotel building has been sealed and forensic teams will conduct a thorough examination to determine what triggered the blaze.
As of Wednesday morning, the lanes around Mechhuapatti remained cordoned off, with the charred remnants of the hotel, burnt window frames, and scattered belongings silently marking the horror that unfolded just hours earlier.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on social media platform X, stating he was “anguished” by the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families affected.
The Kolkata hotel fire stands as a grim reminder of safety lapses in crowded urban areas and has raised urgent questions about fire preparedness and building compliance in high-density zones.
Sources By Agencies
