A major fire that broke out in the early hours on Tuesday at a hotel on Free School Street in central Kolkata spread to adjacent lodging houses and hotels, leaving at least nine people dead and six others injured, officials said.
Firefighting and rescue operations
Fire engines were rushed to the spot after the blaze erupted at around 1.45 am. Five fire tenders were deployed to fight the flames, while personnel from the city police and the Disaster Management Department joined the rescue operation. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Officials said the flames have been brought under control and the cooling process was underway to prevent re-ignition. The headquarters of the West Bengal Fire Department is located close to the affected building, enabling a rapid initial response.
“The dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors. While nine people have died, more deaths are feared,”
The police officer’s remark underlined the challenge rescue teams faced because of heavy smoke that impeded access to upper storeys, delaying search and extraction of occupants from the lodging and guesthouse units that line Free School Street.
Casualties and immediate impact
At present, authorities have confirmed nine fatalities and six injured. Hospital sources said the injured were being treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries. No official list of the deceased has been released so far.
Free School Street is a bustling central Kolkata thoroughfare with several budget hotels and boarding houses catering to visitors and students; a blaze in this precinct risks affecting multiple neighbouring properties and businesses.
Official response and next steps
Police and disaster-management teams remained at the scene to conduct further searches, secure the site and begin preliminary inquiries into the cause of the fire. The fire department will carry out a technical assessment as part of the investigation into origin and spread.
Officials cautioned that casualty figures could change as searches continue and as hospitals update their records. No confirmation has been provided yet on the identities of the dead or whether all those affected were guests of the hotel where the fire started.
Practical information for residents and visitors
- Commuters heading to the central business district should expect localised diversions and traffic congestion near Free School Street while authorities continue on-site operations.
- People with family or acquaintances staying in budget hotels in the Free School Street–Park Street area are advised to contact local police stations and hospitals for information on the injured and missing.
- Residents are urged to allow emergency teams clear access and to avoid congregating close to the scene to facilitate rescue and investigation work.
| Detail | Reported |
|---|---|
| Time of fire | Around 1.45 am |
| Location | Hotel on Free School Street, Kolkata |
| Fire tenders deployed | Five |
| Fatalities | Nine (confirmed) |
| Injured | Six (taken to nearby hospital) |
Further details on the cause of the blaze and the identities of victims will be released by the police and fire department as investigations progress. For now, municipal and emergency services remain focused on search, rescue and securing the site.
The incident has renewed attention on fire safety standards in Kolkata’s older central neighbourhoods, where narrow staircases and shared utility installations can complicate evacuations. Authorities said a full technical inquiry would determine whether building compliance, electrical faults or other factors contributed to the rapid spread.
Residents and hotel operators in the surrounding areas told reporters there was hectic activity at the scene through the early morning. The city administration has offered assistance to those displaced by the blaze and said it would coordinate with local hospitals on medical care for the injured.
As the day progresses, the police and fire department are expected to issue a consolidated update on casualties, damage assessment and the preliminary findings of their probe.
