A devastating fire tore through the Shika Inn hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata early Wednesday, August 19, 2026, claiming the lives of nine people. The incident, occurring in the bustling New Market area, has ignited widespread outrage over fire safety compliance in the city’s hospitality sector, coming just 48 hours after a similar tragedy in Tarapith.

Police and Emergency Response

According to official reports from the New Market Police Station, the emergency sequence began at approximately 02:00 hours, when authorities were alerted to a serious blaze at the hotel located at 15, Mirza Ghalib Street.

Initial Action: A police team from New Market PS arrived at the site immediately, coordinating with the Fire Brigade and CESC (electricity supply) authorities to cut power and begin containment.

Rescue Operation: Four fire tenders from the Fire Brigade Headquarters and the Free School Street Fire Station were deployed. Over two and a half hours of “prolonged and strenuous” operations, personnel successfully evacuated approximately 60 trapped guests.

Casualties: During the search, responders discovered nine individuals—including two women and one child—unconscious. They were rushed to the Medical College & Hospital, where attending physicians declared them *brought dead* upon arrival.

Containment: The fire was brought under full control by 04:30 hours. The area remains heavily cordoned off as forensic experts secure the site for investigation.

Ministerial Scrutiny and Calls for Accountability

West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning to assess the disaster. Visibly distressed by the recurring nature of these incidents, she leveled sharp criticism at municipal oversight.

“How are these hotels operating in such congested areas without basic safety audits? No fire audits have been conducted for these establishments in the last 15 years,” Minister Paul stated. She announced that the state would immediately initiate a “zero-tolerance” drive, forming a specialized task force to conduct city-wide inspections of all hotels to verify valid trade and fire safety licenses.

Joining her, Industries Minister Tapas Roy and Fire Minister Kaushik Chowdhury emphasized that the government is treating the case with the utmost urgency, with a Special Investigation Team (SIT) now tasked with determining the exact origin of the blaze—preliminarily suspected to be a short circuit in an air-conditioning unit.

Investigation Status

While the hotel owner is currently reported as absconding, police have detained several staff members for interrogation. The scene remains under police guard to preserve evidence as the SIT begins its inquiry into potential criminal negligence.

This tragedy marks the second major hotel fire in West Bengal this week, following an incident in Tarapith that also resulted in nine fatalities, intensifying pressure on the administration to overhaul fire safety regulations for commercial buildings statewide.

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