1 week ago
After Free School Street Hotel Fire, Kolkata Cracks Down
A hotel fire in Kolkata killed nine people on Tuesday night.
After that, city officials inspected nearby hotels, guest houses and restaurants.
They found that some places may not have had the right permissions or fire-safety arrangements.
Eight establishments were ordered to close until further notice.
Nine other guest houses and four restaurants were told to explain their safety problems within 24 hours.
Police also told hotels to keep night workers awake and install CCTV cameras.
They said better ventilation was important because many victims died after breathing smoke.
Some hotel workers and guests questioned the notices and worried about where displaced guests would stay.
Nine people died in a fire at Shikha Inn on Tuesday night.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation ordered eight establishments near Free School Street to close and issued show-cause notices.
Officials alleged the businesses violated sanctioned building plans and operated without required civic permissions.
Fire officials served notices to nine guest houses and four restaurant-cum-bars over alleged safety shortcomings.
Police urged hotels to keep night staff alert, install secure CCTV systems and improve ventilation.
- Who
- The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, fire department, CESC and police took action against hotels, guest houses and restaurants near Free School Street.
- What
- Several establishments were closed or served notices after a fire at Shikha Inn killed nine people.
- Where
- Free School Street and nearby premises in Kolkata, including Marquis Plaza.
- When
- The fatal fire occurred on Tuesday night, and inspections and enforcement action followed on Thursday.
- Why
- Authorities alleged violations of civic permissions, sanctioned building plans and fire-safety requirements.
Authorities
Hotel Workers and Guests
Need for closures
Authorities
Officials said establishments allegedly lacked required permissions, statutory documents or adequate fire-safety measures and should remain closed until further notice.
Hotel Workers and Guests
Workers said closures were disruptive, while guests were told to leave with little notice and questioned where they would stay.
Validity of notices
Authorities
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation issued closure and show-cause notices during joint inspections with fire officials and CESC.
Hotel Workers and Guests
A Hotel Duke employee questioned one notice's authenticity because it did not carry a civic stamp or signature.
Safety responsibility
Authorities
Police and officials emphasized approved plans, fire exits, ventilation, alert night staff and secure CCTV systems.
Hotel Workers and Guests
The reported conditions at the establishments, including occupied rooms and mixed-use buildings, raised practical concerns for workers and guests facing sudden evacuation.
Key facts
- Deaths
- Nine people were killed in the Shikha Inn fire.
- Closures
- Seven hotels and one guest house at Marquis Plaza were ordered shut.
- Fire notices
- Nine guest houses and four restaurant-cum-bars received show-cause notices.
- Legal authority
- Civic closures cited Sections 416 and 199 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980.
- Fire law
- Fire-safety notices were issued under Section 37A of the West Bengal Fire Services Act.
- Building concerns
- Officials are checking approved plans, fire exits and other safety measures.
- Police guidance
- Hotels were told to keep night-shift staff alert, preserve CCTV footage and improve ventilation.
Quotes
Hyder Ali Khan
General secretary, Free School Street Traders’ Association
“The police instructed members of the hotel association to ensure that night‑shift staff remain awake and alert throughout the night to prevent such incidents.”
telegraphindia.com
“We were told that all the boarders had to leave. We have five rooms, all occupied by patients from Bangladesh. We have told them that they need to vacate.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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