20 August,2026 03:09 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
Police officials at the site after a fire broke out at a dingy five-storey building housing several hotels on Mirza Galib Street, leaving at least nine people, including a four-year-old child and two women, dead and six others injured, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.(PICS/PTI)
The leaseholder of Hotel Shikha Inn in Kolkata, where a massive fire claimed the lives of nine people, including a child, has been arrested, police officials said.
The accused has been identified as Abu Zafar, who held the lease for the hotel located on Mirza Ghalib Street. Kolkata Police said he was arrested from Entally Main Market as investigators began probing the circumstances surrounding the deadly blaze.
Two hotel staff members have also been detained for questioning as part of the investigation.
The fire broke out at the hotel in the early hours of Wednesday, prompting a major rescue operation involving Kolkata Police, the Fire Brigade and CESC personnel.
Following the incident, Kolkata Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the circumstances that led to the fire and determine whether any lapses contributed to the deaths.
Police said the first information about the blaze reached New Market Police Station at around 2 am. A police team was immediately sent to the location, while the Fire Brigade and CESC were alerted and directed to respond.
Rescue teams faced difficult conditions inside the hotel as they worked to evacuate occupants from the building.
According to police, approximately 60 people were rescued from the premises and moved to safety during the operation.
However, nine people were found unconscious inside the building. They included two women and a child.
The victims were rushed to the Medical College and Hospital, where doctors later declared them dead.
Police said the area is currently under control, with additional personnel deployed around the site. The location has been secured and preserved as investigators continue collecting evidence.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established.
The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata said that nine people died in the incident, including five Bangladeshi nationals.
According to the mission, four of the deceased Bangladeshi nationals belonged to the same family and were residents of Kushtia, while another victim was from Dhaka.
The identity of one other deceased person has been confirmed as an Indian national, while the identities of three victims are still being established.
The Deputy High Commission said six injured Bangladeshi nationals were subsequently discharged from hospital.
Officials from the mission are coordinating with Kolkata Police and hospitals to assist affected families. A 24-hour helpline has also been established for Bangladeshi nationals seeking information or assistance following the incident.
The deadly fire has also raised questions over the safety arrangements and licensing of hotels operating in the building.
West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul, who visited the site, said the state government was considering forming a team to inspect hotels across Kolkata and verify whether they have the required permits and fire licences.
Paul said around 10 hotels were operating across three floors of the building, with several small rooms and narrow spaces.
She indicated that such arrangements could raise serious safety concerns, particularly during an emergency when occupants need to evacuate quickly.
The administration is expected to examine whether the hotel and other establishments operating in the building complied with fire-safety and licensing requirements.
With the leaseholder now arrested and hotel employees being questioned, investigators are expected to examine the building's layout, fire-safety arrangements, permissions, occupancy details and circumstances surrounding the outbreak.
Authorities are also expected to establish how the fire spread and why nine people were unable to escape despite the large-scale rescue operation.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, while the secured site is being examined by the authorities as part of the probe.
(With inputs from ANI)
