Mirza Ghalib Street Fire: 9 Bangladeshi Nationals Killed In Devastating Blaze Day After Tarapith Hotel Inferno Claimed 8 Lives

Kolkata: Tragedy struck West Bengal’s hospitality sector for the second time in 48 hours as a horrific inferno broke out at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street (formerly Free School Street) in central Kolkata early Wednesday morning.

The blaze claimed the lives of nine people, all confirmed to be Bangladeshi nationals visiting the city for medical treatment, and left several others critically injured.

The incident follows a deadly hotel fire in the pilgrimage town of Tarapith in Birbhum district less than two days prior, where eight people lost their lives, exposing glaring gaps in structural fire safety across commercial properties in the state.

Midnight Horror in Kolkata’s Central Hub

The Kolkata blaze erupted around 2:00 AM on Wednesday inside a multi-storey hotel at 15H Mirza Ghalib Street, a bustling neighbourhood in the New Market area popular among cross-border visitors.

Most boarders were fast asleep when flames originated on the lower floors, quickly filling the enclosed, unventilated corridors with thick, asphyxiating smoke.

Five fire tenders along with teams from the Disaster Management Department rushed to the location.

Firefighters faced severe operational challenges as blinding smoke cut off access to primary stairwells, leaving dozens trapped on upper levels.

Emergency workers managed to rescue over 60 occupants, extracting several via ladders and balconies, and rushed six critically injured individuals to nearby medical facilities, including Kolkata Medical College and SSKM Hospital.

Senior police officials confirmed that all nine deceased, comprising six men, two women, and a child, succumbed to heavy smoke inhalation before they could reach safety.

The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has been notified to assist with victim identification and diplomatic coordination for repatriating the bodies.

Back-to-Back Hotel Disasters Shock Bengal

The tragedy comes while West Bengal was still reeling from a devastating fire at Hotel Bideshini near the revered Tarapith Temple in Birbhum district early Monday morning.

That incident claimed eight lives, primarily pilgrims from Meghalaya and West Bengal’s Alipurduar district, when a short circuit near the reception area triggered a massive fire during peak Shravan festival rush.

Investigators in Tarapith revealed that although an emergency staircase existed, the exit grills were securely locked, trapping panic-stricken guests inside pitch-black, smoke-filled corridors. The hotel owner in Tarapith was subsequently taken into custody.

The swift succession of the two tragedies has raised urgent red flags regarding building compliance, operational fire alarms, and emergency evacuation exits in budget accommodations across the state.

Investigation Underway

Forensic experts and West Bengal Fire Services personnel have cordoned off Mirza Ghalib Street to determine the exact origin and cause of the blaze.

Investigators are examining potential electrical short circuits, checking whether the hotel possessed valid fire safety clearances and adequate firefighting apparatus.

State authorities have assured strict legal action against any building owners or management found guilty of violating safety regulations.

In light of the consecutive disasters, state officials are expected to initiate comprehensive, multi-departmental fire safety audits targeting commercial guest houses and budget hotels across Kolkata and major tourist hubs statewide.