Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Kolkata Hotel Fire Probe Begins After Nine Deaths
A fire broke out at a hotel in Kolkata's New Market area.
Nine people died in the incident.
Five of the victims were from Bangladesh and belonged to one family.
Police have created a special team of seven officers to investigate.
Early findings suggest an electrical short circuit may have started the fire.
Investigators are also checking whether the hotel lacked required safety equipment and permissions.
The hotel's owner was injured but has not yet been found.
Police have closed off the building while forensic and other teams collect evidence.
A seven-member Kolkata Police Special Investigation Team has begun probing the New Market hotel fire.
Nine people died, including five confirmed Bangladeshi nationals from one family.
Investigators say the fire may have started with a short circuit on the third floor.
Police are examining alleged fire-safety violations, missing permissions, and the absence of firefighting systems.
Hotel owner Bireswar Mitra, who suffered burns, remains untraceable, while two employees have been detained.
- Who
- The Kolkata Police Special Investigation Team is investigating the fire; nine people died.
- What
- A hotel fire killed nine people and prompted a police investigation into its cause and possible safety violations.
- When
- The investigation began after the fire, with the site cordoned off since Wednesday morning.
- Where
- The incident occurred at a hotel in the New Market area of Kolkata.
- Why
- Police are examining a suspected short circuit, the fire's confinement to the third floor, and possible violations of fire-safety requirements.
- Deaths
- Nine people were killed.
- Investigation team
- A seven-member Special Investigation Team is led by Assistant Commissioner Bhagirath Ghosh.
- Victims identified
- Five deceased people were confirmed as Bangladeshi nationals from one family; two others came from Bihar and Siliguri.
- Suspected cause
- The initial probe points to a possible short circuit.
- Hotel layout
- The hotel reportedly had nine rooms, and bodies were recovered from four rooms.
- Owner
- Owner Bireswar Mitra sustained burn injuries and remains untraceable.
- Police action
- Police detained two employees, cordoned off the building, and registered a suo motu case.