Hotel fire in Kolkata, India kills at least 14 people, police say

New Delhi — A hearth tore by way of a lodge within the metropolis of Kolkata in japanese India, killing at the very least 14 folks, police mentioned Wednesday. Senior police officer Manoj Kumar Verma instructed reporters that the fireplace broke out Tuesday night on the Rituraj Resort in central Kolkata and was doused after an effort that took six fireplace engines. The reason for the fireplace was not instantly clear.

Images and movies carried in Indian media confirmed folks attempting to flee by way of the home windows and slender ledges of the constructing.

Kolkata’s The Telegraph newspaper reported that at the very least one individual died when he jumped off a balcony attempting to flee.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he was “anguished” by the lack of lives within the fireplace.

Fires are widespread in India, the place builders and residents usually flout constructing legal guidelines and security codes. Activists say builders usually reduce corners on security to save lots of prices and have accused civic authorities of negligence and apathy.

In 2022, at the very least 27 folks have been killed when an enormous fireplace tore although a four-story industrial constructing in New Delhi.