Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Kolkata Hotel Fire Leads to Arrest, Building Sealing
A large fire broke out at a hotel in central Kolkata early Wednesday.
The fire killed nine people.
Police later arrested Abu Zafar, who was reportedly the hotel’s leaseholder.
They found him at Entally Main Market.
Fire officials said the building did not have enough safety measures.
They ordered everyone to leave and sealed the building.
Police are also questioning two workers from a nearby hotel.
The owner of both hotels, Bireshwar Mitra, could not be found, so police were asking his family about him.
A massive fire at Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street killed nine people early Wednesday.
Kolkata police arrested Abu Zafar, reportedly the hotel’s leaseholder, late Wednesday night.
Zafar was detained at Entally Main Market and is a resident of Jorasanko.
Fire officials ordered the hotel building vacated and sealed over inadequate fire safety measures.
Police detained a manager and an employee of neighbouring Japon Hotel while owner Bireshwar Mitra remained missing.
- Who
- Kolkata police, Abu Zafar, two hotel staff members, and owner Bireshwar Mitra were involved; nine people died.
- What
- A hotel fire led to an arrest, questioning of staff, and the building being vacated and sealed.
- When
- The fire occurred early Wednesday; the arrest was made late Wednesday night.
- Where
- The fire occurred at Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street in Central Kolkata; Zafar was detained at Entally Main Market.
- Why
- Fire officials cited inadequate fire safety measures when ordering the building sealed; police arrested Zafar in connection with the fire.
- Deaths
- Nine people died in the fire.
- Hotel
- Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street, Central Kolkata.
- Arrested
- Abu Zafar, reportedly the hotel’s leaseholder.
- Building action
- The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services ordered the building vacated and sealed.
- Safety concern
- Officials cited inadequate fire safety measures.
- Other questioning
- A manager and an employee from neighbouring Japon Hotel were detained.
- Owner status
- Bireshwar Mitra, owner of both hotels, remained missing while police questioned his family.