Kolkata Hotel Fire on Mirza Ghalib Street claims nine lives, including 19-year-old Sandeep Paswan from Giridih, as authorities investigate the deadly blaze and alleged fire-safety violations.
A deadly blaze broke out at the four-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street late Tuesday night, trapping hotel guests and staff inside amid thick smoke; several victims were reportedly from Bangladesh and had travelled to India for medical treatment.
Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata | August 19, 2026
Kolkata Hotel Fire: A devastating Kolkata hotel fire claimed the lives of nine people after flames swept through a four-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street in the early hours of Wednesday. The building houses several hotels and guest houses, many of which were reportedly occupied by Bangladeshi nationals who had come to India for medical treatment.
The Kolkata hotel fire broke out shortly before 2 a.m., leaving several people trapped inside their rooms as smoke rapidly filled the building. Firefighters, police personnel and disaster-response teams rushed to the scene after receiving the alert. Nine people were eventually brought out and taken to hospital, but doctors declared all of them dead.
According to preliminary information, the deceased include six men, two women and a child. The identity of most of the victims had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting. One of the victims has been identified as 19-year-old Sandeep Paswan, a hotel employee from Giridih in Jharkhand.
Sandip Paswan of Gridih
For Sandeep, the job at the hotel was his first. He had arrived in Kolkata only around three months ago and had started working at the hotel located on Mirza Ghalib Street. He reportedly lived at the same premises and worked at the reception desk.
Colleagues and acquaintances described Sandeep as cheerful and helpful. Guests frequently approached him when they needed assistance, and fellow employees often directed residents to him when the manager was unavailable.
But when the fire broke out in the middle of the night, Sandeep could not escape.
While several other hotel employees managed to get out of the building, Sandeep remained trapped inside. He was later brought out from the reception area in an unconscious condition. Doctors at the hospital subsequently declared him dead. He is believed to have died from suffocation caused by the heavy smoke.
Bengal minister Tapas Roy visits the site of the deadly fire at a five-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street in Kolkata.
The tragedy has deeply affected people in his hometown of Giridih. Sandeep had reportedly completed his higher secondary education but did not continue his studies. The death of his father several years ago placed additional responsibilities on the family, and he eventually came to Kolkata in search of employment.
His uncle is also based in Kolkata and works in the Nagerbazar area. Sandeep’s acquaintance and neighbour from Giridih, Indradev Paswan, was also working at a hotel in the New Market area.
Indradev rushed to the scene after hearing about the blaze. By the time he arrived, firefighters, police officers and disaster-management personnel had already reached the building. He was unable to enter the premises and waited anxiously outside.
Later, he saw Sandeep being carried out unconscious. The young worker was taken to hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
One Building, Multiple Hotels and a Single Front Staircase
The incident has also raised serious questions about the safety arrangements inside the building.
The hotel where Sandeep worked, Shikha Inn, was located on the third floor. Another hotel reportedly operated on the same floor, while several other hotels and guest houses were functioning on different floors of the four-storey building.
Residents said that multiple establishments inside the building shared the same front staircase, creating serious difficulties for people trying to escape during the fire.
Some occupants also alleged that several rooms had not been constructed according to a proper safety-oriented layout. While the interiors of some rooms were reportedly maintained and decorated, the common areas and external portions of the building appeared less organised.
According to residents, a single floor could contain around 10 to 12 rooms, with a mixture of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned accommodation.
The incident has triggered questions over whether the hotels operating inside the building had the required safety clearances.
According to police sources cited in preliminary reports, the hotel did not have the necessary fire-safety arrangements and allegedly lacked a valid fire licence. Police authorities are also examining whether the required police licence was in place.
Fire officials have begun examining the circumstances that led to the blaze. A short circuit has been cited as a possible cause at this preliminary stage, although the exact reason for the fire will be established only after a detailed investigation.
Following the incident, people staying at the hotels and guest houses inside the building were evacuated. The fire has since been brought under control.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by crowded accommodation facilities operating in older or densely occupied buildings without adequate emergency exits and fire-safety infrastructure.
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the fire, the building’s safety compliance and whether any violations contributed to the deaths.
