A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established to probe the fire at Shika Inn hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata, which resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, including a child. Five of the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals, officials confirmed.
The SIT will be led by Bhagirath Ghosh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration), Detective Department, Kolkata. The fire broke out around 2 am on Wednesday within the jurisdiction of New Market Police Station. Approximately 60 people were rescued, while several sustained injuries.
Sources indicated that some of those who died had traveled from Bangladesh to Kolkata for medical treatment. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed his concern over the incident, stating the administration’s focus on rescue and relief efforts as well as investigating the cause of the blaze.
In a statement on He said: “Shocked and anguished by the tragic fire incident at the hotel on Mirza Galib Street in Kolkata. While we remain focused on the rescue & relief operations and conduct an investigation regarding what went wrong, it is impossible to ignore the reality we are facing today.”
The Chief Minister accused past administrations of allowing hotels and other businesses to operate without meeting fire safety standards and conducting necessary compliance audits. He added that the current government is working to enforce these safety measures rigorously.
Adhikari assured that all necessary support would be provided to those affected and directed officials to ensure the injured receive “the absolute best medical attention and support”.
The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata confirmed that its officials responded promptly after being informed of the incident. They gathered information about the deceased and injured and stated: “According to local authorities, a total of nine people have died in the fire so far. Local police have confirmed the identities of five Bangladeshi nationals among the deceased.”
The commission noted that it has contacted the families of the victims, with four identified as members of the same family. The identities of remaining victims have not yet been confirmed by local authorities. Six injured Bangladeshi nationals were discharged after receiving primary treatment.
The SIT will focus on investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the hotel’s safety and regulatory compliance.