Firefighters carried out rescue operations through the night, with 10 fire engines deployed at the scene. President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi have expressed condolences for the tragic loss of lives in the fire accident and announced an ex-gratia compensation.
A massive fire broke out at a hotel in central Kolkata’s Mechua area on the evening of Tuesday, April 29, 2025, claiming at least 14 lives and leaving over 13 others injured. One man tragically died after jumping from the building in an attempt to escape the flames in panic, while the remaining 13 fatalities were caused by suffocation.
The dense lanes of Burrabazar hampered rescue efforts, as most victims succumbed to smoke inhalation. The fire, which started around 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, was eventually controlled by the early hours of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, with over 10 fire engines working through the night to extinguish the flames.
“14 people have died in the fire at Rituraj Hotel. A Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the cause,” said Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Verma, who visited the site.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences and confirmed an investigation. “I monitored the rescue and firefighting operations overnight, mobilizing maximum resources in the area. The presence of combustible materials inside the hotel contributed to the fatalities. Investigation is underway. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and my solidarity with everyone affected,” CM Banerjee posted on X.
Taking to X, President Droupadi Murmu expressed her deep condolences, stating, ‘The tragic loss of lives in the fire accident in Kolkata is deeply disturbing and painful. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for each of the injured. The PMO posted on X, ‘I am anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Kolkata. Condolences to those who lost loved ones. I pray for the quick recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF will be provided to the families of the deceased, and ₹50,000 to the injured.’
Rituraj Hotel, a six-story building located in the congested Burrabazar area of Kolkata, had 88 people staying in 42 rooms, according to Indira Mukherjee, Deputy Commissioner of Police — Central Division. Around 60 staff were also present on the premises.
Police confirmed that two children were among the dead. Eight bodies have been identified, while the others are still being processed. Of the 13 injured, 12 have been discharged, while one remains under observation.
The fire started on the first floor of the hotel on Madan Mohan Barman Street, and panic spread as locals tried to escape. Many jumped from the hotel balcony in desperation. Despite repeated warnings from firefighters and police to remain calm, Manoj Paswan tragically jumped from the top floor and was later declared dead at the Medical College Hospital.
A worker from Rituraj Hotel shared, ‘The fire began on the first floor. Our owner screamed for help, urging guests to evacuate while he tried to put out the flames with buckets of water.’
Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim and Minister Shashi Panja visited the site to oversee rescue operations. Hakim stated, ‘We will only know the true cause of the fire after forensic analysis.’
According to Hakim, the fire spread from the lower floors, causing smoke to fill the upper levels, trapping people and preventing them from escaping through the main entrance. Hotel staff reported that panic set in, and many rushed to the upper floors and terrace to flee.
Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, expressed condolences but raised concerns about the infrastructure and safety measures, calling for a thorough investigation. On X, he wrote, ‘The tragedy struck in the heart of Kolkata, yet the response was not swift or adequate, given the location.’
Kolkata has previously experienced devastating fire accidents, including the Stephen Court fire in March 2010 and the AMRI Hospital fire tragedy in December 2011, which claimed numerous lives.”**
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