9 Bangladeshis killed in Kolkata hotel fire

At least nine Bangladeshi nationals, including a child, were killed and six others injured in a fire at a hotel in central Kolkata early today.

All the deceased are from Bangladesh, Local Welfare Committee member Mahishur said.

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The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately.

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PTI and NDTV, along with several other Indian media outlets, also confirmed that all nine people who died were Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment.

The fire broke out around 1:45am at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street, near the New Market area, PTI reported, citing police.

Five fire tenders, along with police and disaster management personnel, joined the rescue operation.

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According to reports, the victims included six men, two women and a child. Firefighters rescued several people from the building, while the injured were taken to a nearby hospital.

Dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to reach the upper floors, a police officer told PTI. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

NDTV, citing initial reports, said an air-conditioner explosion was suspected to have triggered the fire, although authorities have yet to confirm the cause.