Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Hotel Fire Survivors Retrieve Passports Amid Anxiety in Kolkata
A hotel fire in Kolkata killed nine people.
Many guests had to leave quickly to escape the smoke and flames.
Some left their passports and luggage behind.
Police helped survivors return to the hotels to collect their belongings.
Several Bangladeshi travelers missed their flights because they could not get their passports in time.
Officials were trying to arrange new flights and provide assistance.
A family visiting for a child’s medical treatment was rescued by firefighters.
Another group of tourists felt lucky because they had left the hotel before the fire started.
The incident also made some travelers worry about poor fire-safety measures in nearby hotels.
A deadly hotel fire claimed nine lives, leaving nearby guests anxious and displaced.
Survivors spent hours recovering passports, luggage and other belongings from affected hotels.
Some Bangladeshi nationals missed Thursday flights after delays retrieving their documents.
Firefighters rescued a Bangladeshi family seeking medical treatment for a child.
Eight tourists from Agartala narrowly avoided the blaze after checking out hours earlier.
- Who
- Hotel guests and survivors, including Bangladeshi nationals, a family from Bangladesh, and tourists from Agartala; nine people died in the fire.
- What
- The aftermath of a deadly hotel fire involved evacuations, recovery of passports and luggage, missed flights, and concerns about fire safety.
- When
- The fire occurred Tuesday night; survivors and officials dealt with its aftermath on Thursday, the following day.
- Where
- Free School Street and adjoining areas in Calcutta, including Shikha Inn and nearby hotels.
- Why
- Guests fled because of fire and smoke, leaving belongings behind; some travelers missed flights while waiting to recover passports.
- Deaths
- Nine people were killed in the hotel fire.
- Affected area
- Free School Street and adjoining areas in Calcutta.
- Document recovery
- Police helped guests retrieve passports and other belongings from affected hotels.
- Missed flights
- Four Bangladeshi nationals were reportedly unable to board their flights after retrieving their passports too late.
- Rescued family
- Marjina Begum, her daughter and her grandson were rescued by firefighters.
- Tourist group
- Six adults and two children from Agartala had checked out hours before the blaze.
- Reported safety concerns
- A guest at a nearby Marquis Street hotel said he had seen two exits but no visible fire alarms or sprinklers.