Overview
- Early on Wednesday, a blaze at Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata left nine people dead after smoke filled rooms and most victims died of asphyxia.
- Firefighters and police rescued about 60–80 people from the five‑storey building but nine were found unconscious and later declared dead at the hospital.
- Investigators say the fire likely began with an electrical short circuit in the reception area and forensic teams have collected wiring and other evidence to confirm the cause.
- Kolkata Police formed a Special Investigation Team led by Bhagirath Ghosh, detained two hotel employees, reported the owner Bireswar Mitra untraceable, and registered suo motu criminal cases.
- The West Bengal government ordered audits of hotels, lodges and guest houses across the state, and the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission is helping identify victims, assist families and coordinate repatriation.