Five Bangladeshis confirmed among 9 killed in Kolkata hotel fire

At least five Bangladeshi nationals have been identified among the nine people killed in a fire at a hotel in central Kolkata early today, according to the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The identities of the remaining four victims have yet to be confirmed by local authorities, the ministry said in a press release this afternoon.

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Journalist, three family members from Kushtia among nine killed in Kolkata hotel fire

The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata contacted the families of the five identified victims. Four of them were members of the same family, the release said.

Six Bangladeshi nationals who were injured in the fire were released after receiving initial treatment, according to the ministry.

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The five Bangladeshis who died are Debashish Dutta, 37, Kushtia correspondent for Ajker Patrika and Channel 9; his wife, Afsana Shimmin, 25; their two-year-old son, Swarnashish Dutta; Afsana’s father, Akram Ali, 64; and Ahmed Babu, 37, son of Adam Ali of Aminbazar, Savar, our Kolkata correspondent reports.

Earlier, an official at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata told The Daily Star that at least eight Bangladeshis were among the nine people killed.

Before that, Mahishur, a member of the Local Welfare Committee, said all the deceased were from Bangladesh. Indian media reports, including those by PTI and NDTV, also said the nine people had travelled to Kolkata from Bangladesh for medical treatment.

“We are yet to identify those killed or injured. It will take some time,” Omar Faruk, second secretary at the deputy high commission, told The Daily Star earlier.

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The Deputy High Commission has remained in contact with hospitals, local police and other authorities and has opened a round-the-clock helpline, the foreign ministry release said.

The fire broke out around 1:45am at a hotel, Shikha Inn, on Mirza Ghalib Street, near the New Market area, PTI reported, citing police.

Five fire tenders, along with police and disaster management personnel, joined the rescue operation. Dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to reach the upper floors, a police officer told PTI.

The exact cause of the fire is under investigation. NDTV, citing initial reports, said an air-conditioner explosion was suspected to have triggered the fire, although authorities have yet to confirm the cause.

This report was updated with the latest information at 3:00pm.

Our Kolkata correspondent contributed to this report.