Kolkata Hotel Fire Claims 15 Lives: A Tragic Night in Burrabazar
A devastating fire tore through the Rituraj Hotel in Kolkata’s Burrabazar area on Tuesday night, leaving at least 15 dead, mostly from suffocation.
The tragedy unfolded around 7:30 pm, shaking the city, especially its crowded commercial heart. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause and examine the hotel’s safety measures.
The fire spread rapidly through the six-story hotel, which is located on Madanmohan Street in one of Kolkata’s oldest and most densely populated neighborhoods.
The building, a mix of a commercial godown on the ground floor with hotel rooms on the upper five stories, turned into a death trap for those staying there.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma confirmed the shocking toll: “14 casualties have been reported so far. An SIT has been formed to probe the cause of the fire and to check the safety measures that were in place.”
The police also indicated that many victims were guests trapped inside their rooms as smoke and flames spread quickly throughout the hotel. Tragically, one person died after falling from the building while attempting to escape the flames.
Kolkata: 14 People Killed in fire in a Hotel. Locals allege that there was no fire safety at the hotel.@MamataOfficial is busy playing religion politics. pic.twitter.com/dx8q6fkGBo
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) April 30, 2025
A Race Against Time
When the fire broke out, the emergency response was swift. Ten fire engines rushed to the scene, battling flames and smoke through the night. It took hours for the fire to be brought under control, but it was only after 1 am Wednesday that the situation was contained. Firefighters continued their efforts through the night, rescuing several guests from perilous situations.
The chaotic scene was both heartbreaking and heroic.
Many trapped inside made desperate attempts to find safety. Some found their way to the rooftop, while others were seen clinging to narrow parapets outside their windows, hoping someone would come to their rescue. Firefighters, equipped with hydraulic ladders, worked tirelessly to bring them to safety, while loudspeakers were used to calm the panicked guests.
At Kolkata Medical College Hospital, a man, Sanjoy Paswan, was declared dead on arrival. He had fallen while trying to escape the fire. Several others are still receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the blaze.
The hotel’s layout played a role in the disaster. The building’s poor evacuation routes and lack of proper fire safety measures have raised many questions.
As the fire ravaged the upper floors, it became impossible for many guests to exit their rooms in time. The trapped victims were forced to endure suffocating smoke and overwhelming heat before they could be rescued.
VIDEO | West Bengal: Visuals from outside a hotel located on Madan Mohan Barman Street in the Mechuapatti area of Kolkata where at least 14 people were killed and several others injured in a massive fire.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/lCjmHIcIUx
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2025
Government Response
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced a relief package for the victims’ families. “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Kolkata. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” he wrote on social media.
An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased, while the injured will receive Rs 50,000. West Bengal’s Women, Children, and Social Welfare Minister, Sashi Panja, confirmed that most of the victims were from other states, visiting Kolkata for commercial activities. She expressed sorrow over the incident and added, “It is indeed a very unfortunate incident.
Investigation is on and we will soon know the exact cause of the blaze.”
The Human Cost of Negligence
As investigations continue, the question that lingers is how a disaster of this scale was allowed to happen in one of Kolkata’s busiest neighborhoods.
The victims of this tragedy were not just numbers—they were individuals, families, and people who came to the city for work and business. The fact that two children were among those killed makes this incident even more heartbreaking.
This incident also sheds light on the lack of sufficient safety measures in some of Kolkata’s older buildings. While newer structures are often equipped with fire alarms, sprinklers, and well-marked escape routes, many older establishments still lack these basic precautions, placing lives at risk.
The Rituraj Hotel fire is a grim reminder of the urgent need for better building regulations and safety standards, particularly in congested, older parts of the city. It also underscores the importance of ensuring that commercial buildings, no matter how old, are regularly inspected for fire safety compliance.
VIDEO | Kolkata hotel fire: Police Commissioner Manoj Verma says, “A fire incident was reported at Ritu Raj Hotel in Mechuapatti area at about 8:15 pm on Tuesday evening. At least 15 casualties have been reported so far and several people were rescued from rooms and roof of the… pic.twitter.com/CJax8G2Vom
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2025
Looking Ahead
As Kolkata reels from this tragic event, authorities have promised a thorough investigation into the causes of the fire and the building’s safety standards. We can only hope that the lessons learned from this disaster will lead to stricter safety laws that protect the lives of all citizens, especially those staying in hotels or other commercial accommodations.
For now, the families of those lost in the fire have our deepest sympathies, and the city of Kolkata will carry the heavy burden of remembering those who perished in the flames.
