Fourteen people and many injured in a hotel fire in Kolkata’s congested Mechua market; fire engines struggled to access the area.
Victims were mostly asphyxiated due to smoke, as the six-storey hotel had only one stairway, which was cut off by the fire on the first floor.
One person died after jumping from the building, highlighting the absence of alternate escape routes — a clear violation of fire safety norms.
A similar fire occurred in Ajmer, Rajasthan, killing four people; again, congestion and lack of fire access hampered rescue efforts.
Such fatal fires in congested urban areas have become common in India, especially in Kolkata, which has seen at least eight major fires in the past 15 years.
CM Mamata Banerjee called it an accident linked to a gas cylinder explosion, but experts say these tragedies are preventable with proper safety measures.
Many inner-city areas in Indian metros operate with outdated infrastructure, lack emergency exits, and use flammable construction materials.
Unlike other cities, Kolkata has seen little inner-city redevelopment to improve safety and infrastructure.
Immediate solutions include reducing sidewalk heights for better fire engine access, retrofitting buildings with fire-retardant materials, and adding retractable metallic staircases for emergency escape.
Firefighting teams should also be equipped with more breathing apparatuses to navigate smoke-filled, inaccessible areas during rescues.
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