1 week ago
Hotel closures over fire safety imperil workers before Puja
Several hotels in Kolkata were ordered to close because officials said they did not follow fire-safety and civic rules.
This happened after a fire at Shikha Inn killed nine people.
The closures are making hotel workers worried because they may lose their jobs or income.
Many workers support children, parents, or sick family members.
Some workers also owe money and are unsure how they will repay it.
The shutdown came just before Puja, when families often hope to buy gifts and celebrate.
Hotel guests are now paying more attention to alarms and emergency exits.
The closures are meant to improve safety, but they are causing serious financial stress for employees.
More than 30 Kolkata hotels have received closure notices for allegedly violating civic and fire-safety rules.
Workers at shuttered hotels fear losing income and festive-season bonuses while supporting families and repaying debts.
The closures followed a fire at Shikha Inn that killed nine people and exposed inadequate safety measures.
Employees said the pandemic and reduced Bangladeshi visitor numbers had already weakened the hotel industry.
A Dhaka trader said he would now check fire alarms and emergency exits, even if safer rooms cost more.
- Who
- Employees of hotels ordered shut, hotel owners and managers, civic and fire-safety authorities, and hotel guests are involved.
- What
- More than 30 Kolkata hotels received closure notices for allegedly failing to meet civic and fire-safety requirements.
- Where
- The affected establishments include hotels in Kolkata, particularly the New Market area and Free School Street.
- When
- The closures began being reported on Thursday, with workers discussing the impact on Friday, shortly before the Puja season.
- Why
- Authorities acted after the fire at Shikha Inn killed nine people and highlighted a lack of basic fire-safety mechanisms.
Worker livelihood concerns
Public safety concerns
Immediate hotel closures
Worker livelihood concerns
Employees say indefinite shutdowns remove their income and may force them to return home or incur additional living costs.
Public safety concerns
The closures address alleged civic and fire-safety violations after a deadly hotel fire exposed inadequate safety measures.
Cost of safer accommodation
Worker livelihood concerns
Workers and budget-conscious travelers may struggle if compliance or safer rooms leads to higher costs.
Public safety concerns
A Dhaka trader said he was willing to pay more to find hotels with fire alarms and emergency exits.
Key facts
- Hotels served closure notices
- More than 30 hotels in Kolkata
- Closures in New Market area
- Nearly a dozen hotels, according to hoteliers’ association sources
- Deaths in Shikha Inn fire
- Nine people
- Bapan Mallick’s monthly salary
- Around ₹8,000, plus guest tips
- Uttam Ghosh’s monthly salary
- Just over ₹10,000
- Prem Kumar Ghosh’s monthly salary
- Around ₹15,000
- Primary reported impact
- Workers face possible loss of livelihoods before Puja
Quotes
Bapan Mallick
Waiter at Times International and sole earning member of his family
“I usually come alone for business. Spending ₹1,000 gets me a decent room. Until now, I had never thought about fire safety. I never checked for fire alarms or emergency exits while looking for hotels. But now I will, even if I have to pay more”
telegraphindia.com
“I have borrowed around ₹2.5 lakh from lenders at steep interest rates to manage the expenses. My salary alone was not enough. Now, I can’t think of a way to repay them”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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