At least nine killed in hotel fire in India’s Kolkata

At least nine killed in hotel fire in India’s Kolkata
Firefighters and other officials stand on the street in the aftermath of hotel a fire that killed several people in Kolkata, India, 19 August 2026.
Reuters//Sahiba Chawdhary

At least nine people were killed, including a child, in a fire at a hotel in India's eastern city of Kolkata on Wednesday, local police said. 

The fire broke out at around 2:50 a.m. local time on the second floor of the hotel and was brought under control within an hour, a senior police officer told Reuters.

Around 30 people were safely evacuated from the building. Police said an electrical short circuit may have triggered the blaze, although the exact cause has yet to be determined.

Firefighters stand at an entryway to a hotel where a fire broke out and killed several people, in Kolkata, India, 19 August 2026. Reuters/Sahiba Chawdhary
Reuters
Victims and injuries

Local media reported that at least six people were injured and receiving hospital treatment.

News agency ANI, citing the fire department, reported that some of those killed were Bangladeshi citizens who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. NDTV reported that all nine victims were Bangladeshis.

However, the senior police official who spoke to Reuters said the nationalities of those killed had not yet been confirmed.

The hotel is located in a congested part of central Kolkata and is known for offering budget accommodation and restaurants.

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