1 week ago
Kolkata’s ‘Mini-Bangladesh’ Reveals Fire Risks Behind Cheap Hotels
A busy part of Kolkata has many hotels, shops and restaurants used by visitors from Bangladesh.
The area is often called “mini-Bangladesh.”
A fire at one hotel killed nine people.
People who visited nearby buildings found some narrow stairways and no separate emergency exits.
Some buildings also had piles of items that could burn easily.
A Bangladeshi visitor said safer hotels often cost more.
He explained that medical patients may need to stay for weeks or months.
The neighborhood provides jobs for many people, but its fire-safety problems remain a serious concern.
A fire at Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street claimed nine lives.
The area, known as “mini-Bangladesh,” relies heavily on Bangladeshi visitors.
Traders estimate nearly 1,000 hotels, lodges and guest houses operate there.
Many buildings reportedly have narrow staircases, no separate fire exits and limited equipment.
Visitors say inexpensive accommodation is essential for Bangladeshis receiving prolonged medical treatment.
- Who
- Nine people died in a fire at Shikha Inn; the area serves many Bangladeshi visitors and supports tens of thousands of workers.
- What
- A hotel fire exposed broader fire-safety risks in Kolkata’s “mini-Bangladesh” commercial district.
- Where
- Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street, formerly Free School Street, in central Kolkata.
- When
- The fire occurred in the early hours before Wednesday afternoon, when the area was examined.
- Why
- The neighborhood contains many inexpensive hotels and commercial establishments, but several buildings reportedly lack adequate fire-safety measures.
Affordable lodging and local livelihoods
Stronger fire-safety enforcement
Hotel affordability
Affordable lodging and local livelihoods
Bangladeshi visitors, particularly medical patients staying for weeks or more, depend on inexpensive hotels and guest houses.
Stronger fire-safety enforcement
Low prices do not resolve the risks posed by buildings with inadequate exits and limited firefighting equipment.
Economic activity
Affordable lodging and local livelihoods
Hotels, shops, restaurants, travel agencies and other businesses support tens of thousands of livelihoods, according to the report.
Stronger fire-safety enforcement
The concentration of commercial establishments and combustible goods can increase the danger of a major fire.
Building conditions
Affordable lodging and local livelihoods
A shared hosepipe and low-cost lodging reflect the limited facilities available in some properties.
Stronger fire-safety enforcement
Narrow staircases, absent fire exits, clogged electrical equipment and piles of plastic and fabric indicate potentially dangerous conditions.
Key facts
- Deaths
- Nine people were killed in the fire at Shikha Inn.
- Area
- The district includes Mirza Ghalib Street, Kyd Street, Sudder Street, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and parts of New Market.
- Hotels and guest houses
- The Free School Street Traders Association estimates nearly 1,000 hotels, lodges and guest houses across the area.
- Economic dependence
- Tens of thousands of people depend on business generated by the neighborhood.
- Typical room rates
- A nearby building advertised rooms from ₹600 per night and air-conditioned rooms for ₹1,000 per day.
- Street renaming
- Free School Street was formally renamed Mirza Ghalib Street in 1969.
- Fire-safety concern
- A surveyed G+2 building had multiple lodging businesses, narrow entrances, no visible separate fire exit and only a shared hosepipe.
Quotes
Mafizul Islam Milon
Bangladeshi businessman and regular visitor to Calcutta
“I was in central Calcutta when I found out about the fire. I heard that several Bangladeshis were staying there, so I came running to see if I knew anyone.”
telegraphindia.com
“There are close to 1,000 hotels, lodges and guest houses in this entire area.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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