At least 14 people, including two children and a woman, died in a catastrophic fire at Kolkata’s Rituraj Hotel near Falpatti Machhua on Tuesday evening. The blaze, allegedly caused by a short circuit and suspected to have started between 7:30–8:15 pm, rapidly engulfed the six-storey budget hotel, trapping guests inside.
Most victims allegedly succumbed to suffocation, while others suffered fatal injuries while attempting to escape. Over 20 people were rescued from the rooftop and upper floors by firefighters using hydraulic ladders and gas cutters.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe alleged fire safety lapses, including non-functional suppression systems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for victims’ families, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed expedited relief efforts.
Political leaders, including BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar and Congress’s Subhankar Sarkar, allegedly criticised administrative negligence and delayed response.
Rescue Efforts and Eyewitness Accounts
The fire, which allegedly originated on the hotel’s lower floors, filled corridors with thick smoke within minutes, cutting off escape routes. Guests, including families and labourers, allegedly resorted to jumping from windows or climbing to the rooftop.
“People were screaming for help; some allegedly threw children to bystanders below,” recounted eyewitness Anil Shaw, a shopkeeper near the hotel. Firefighters faced logistical challenges due to narrow lanes, allegedly delaying access to the building.
Survivor Sanjay Paswan, who fractured his leg leaping from the fourth floor, described the chaos: “The smoke was everywhere-we couldn’t see the exits.” Tragically, a 12-year-old boy was separated from his mother during the escape and remains missing.
Investigations and Political Fallout
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma confirmed the death toll and emphasised the SIT’s focus on the hotel’s alleged non-compliance with fire safety norms. Preliminary reports indicate the absence of functional smoke detectors and allegedly blocked emergency exits.
West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose attributed the high casualties to suffocation and structural hazards. The tragedy has sparked political clashes: BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar allegedly accused CM Banerjee of “insensitivity” for attending a cultural event during the crisis, while Congress leader Subhankar Sarkar blamed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for allegedly renewing the hotel’s license despite safety violations.
Three victims from Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, including two minors, have been identified, highlighting the incident’s pan-India impact.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Rituraj Hotel fire is a grim reminder of systemic apathy toward fire safety in densely populated urban hubs. While commendable rescue efforts saved lives, the tragedy exposes a pattern of alleged negligence-from lax regulatory enforcement to political blame-shifting.
Authorities must prioritise routine safety audits, public awareness campaigns, and accountability for allegedly non-compliant establishments.
As a community, we must ask: How can citizens actively demand safer infrastructure, and what role can technology play in early fire detection? Let this incident galvanise collective action to ensure no more lives are lost to preventable disasters.
