No less than 9 folks, together with a four-year-old little one, died and 6 have been injured in an early Wednesday fireplace at a dingy five-storey constructing on Mirza Galib Road in central Kolkata that housed a number of inns, police mentioned.
5 fireplace tenders have been pressed into service to douse the blaze that erupted round 1.45 am. Police and Catastrophe Administration Division personnel reached the spot for the rescue operation.
Bengal minister Tapas Roy visits the positioning of the lethal fireplace at a five-storey constructing on Mirza Ghalib Road in Kolkata on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. (Soumyajit Dey)
“The dense smoke made it tough for firefighters to climb the staircase and attain the higher flooring. Whereas 9 folks have died, extra deaths are feared,” a police officer instructed PTI.
The deceased embody six males, two girls and a four-year-old little one, he mentioned, including that the injured have been despatched to a hospital.
“Our precedence is to rescue these trapped and decide the explanations for the fireplace. The flames have been doused, and the cooling course of is underway,” he added.
Chatting with PTI, fireplace division minister Kaushik Chowdhury mentioned the identities of these killed are but to be established. The deceased embody each Indians and Bangladeshi nationals, he mentioned after visiting the positioning.
“We try to ascertain their identities. The state of affairs inside this constructing may be very dangerous. There are a number of inns inside this constructing. I’m shocked to see what was happening right here,” Chowdhury mentioned.
Requested about the reason for the fireplace, the minister mentioned that it could possibly be due to a brief circuit. “However a forensic examination would reveal what led to the blaze,” he mentioned.
Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul visits the positioning of a lethal fireplace at a five-storey constructing on Mirza Ghalib Road in Kolkata on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. (Soumyajit Dey)
“Now we have not filed any FIR however will accomplish that. I’m amazed how the previous administration gave permissions to such inns to function. We’re not shrugging duties however wish to guarantee you that each one these behind this mishap will face stringent actions,” he mentioned.
“The constructing administration didn’t adjust to primary security and building norms. It’s alleged that there have been a number of irregularities within the functioning of the resort,” the minister added.
The minister mentioned the reason for demise could possibly be suffocation. “Folks couldn’t escape, and a number of other rooms had no home windows. We may deliver out a pair from a room which had a window,” he mentioned.
Speaking to reporters, he mentioned that the immediate motion by the Hearth Brigade Division resulted within the rescue of round 80 folks from the central Kolkata constructing.
“We obtained info round 2.07 am and the rescue operation was launched at 2.08 am,” the minister mentioned.
Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul had reached the spot to take inventory of the state of affairs as nicely.
“I’ll converse to the chief minister, after which we are going to type a staff comprising officers from the KMC, police, fireplace brigade and our City Improvement division. We are going to test whether or not the institutions have legitimate commerce and fireplace licences. Ten inns have been working in a single three-storey constructing, with a number of small rooms. This can’t be allowed… The police are trying into the matter… Particular motion will likely be taken,” she instructed reporters.
One other police officer mentioned the constructing proprietor is at the moment absconding.
“A case is being registered on the New Market police station, with police initiating proceedings in opposition to the proprietor,” he mentioned, including that police have begun raids on the proprietor’s residence as a part of efforts to hint him.
An investigation is underway to find out the circumstances that led to the fireplace and whether or not security rules have been violated.
In keeping with the chief minister’s workplace, CM Suvendu Adhikari is prone to go to the positioning of the fireplace.
That is the second main fireplace incident to rock Bengal this week. In a separate incident on Monday, a hearth broke out at a Tarapith resort, killing at the very least eight folks. The administration in Tarapith has cancelled the license of at the very least 15 inns for flouting fireplace norms following the incident.
Among the many useless have been folks from Meghalaya and Alipurduar in Bengal. The police mentioned at the very least 28 folks have been rescued from the resort and admitted to numerous hospitals in Kolkata.
Main Kolkata fireplace incidents within the final decade
- Anandapur warehouse fireplace (January 26, 2026)
The January 26 fireplace that had diminished two godowns and a momo manufacturing unit in Anandapur close to Kolkata to ashes had claimed 21 lives, with a number of reported lacking within the aftermath.
With greater than 20 fireplace engines deployed, firefighters fought the blaze for hours. Later, the Director Common of the Hearth Division revealed that the warehouse didn’t have the fireplace division’s authorisation or adhere to any fireplace security norms.
- Eco Park slum fireplace (December 18, 2025)
An enormous fireplace broke out in shanties close to Eco Park on Kolkata’s jap fringes, which gutted practically 200 huts; based on studies, the fireplace unfold quickly as a result of presence of flamable supplies.
The blaze, which began round 7.30 pm, despatched thick smoke throughout the realm and triggered panic amongst residents. No less than 20 fireplace tenders have been deployed to deliver it below management. No casualties have been reported.
- Ezra Road fireplace (November 15, 2025)
A significant fireplace broke out at {an electrical} items store on Kolkata’s Ezra Road in Burrabazar, rapidly spreading to close by retailers and a 10-storey constructing reverse. Round 20 fireplace tenders have been deployed, however the slender lanes and stacks of inflammable supplies and building particles made firefighting tough.
No casualties have been reported because it occurred within the early hours, although merchants and store house owners who have been current within the space have been compelled to flee amid the blaze.
- Barasat warehouse blaze (June 21, 2025)
An enormous fireplace at a chemical and diaper manufacturing warehouse in Barasat’s Bamunmura space off Taki Highway within the outskirts of Kolkata precipitated greater than 80 households to evacuate from the encircling space.
Whereas no casualties have been reported, greater than 20 fireplace engines have been deployed to deal with the blaze. The blaze gutted a chemical manufacturing unit and round eight to 10 adjoining warehouses.
- Sealdah ESI Hospital fireplace (October 18, 2024)
A hearth broke out within the males’s surgical ward on the primary flooring of Sealdah ESI Hospital, prompting the evacuation of practically 80 sufferers. Ten fireplace tenders have been deployed, and the blaze was introduced below management after practically two hours.
There have been no confirmed fire-related casualties, though authorities have been investigating the demise of a affected person within the ICU to find out whether or not it was attributable to suffocation from the blaze or pure causes.
- Tangra leather-based manufacturing unit fireplace (March 12, 2022)
A significant fireplace broke out at a leather-based items manufacturing unit on Mehr Ali Lane in Kolkata’s densely populated Tangra space.
No less than 15 fireplace engines have been deployed to battle the blaze, which despatched thick smoke throughout the neighbourhood, inflicting panic among the many residents. No casualties have been reported.
- New Koilaghat Constructing fireplace (March 8, 2021)
A devastating fireplace broke out on the thirteenth flooring of the New Koilaghat Constructing on Strand Highway in central Kolkata on March 8, 2021, killing 9 folks.
Seven our bodies have been recovered that night, adopted by two extra the following day. The victims included 4 firefighters, an assistant sub-inspector of police and three railway officers.
- Ghatakpukur Bazar fireplace (December 19, 2020)
A hearth at a kerosene outlet in Ghatakpukur Bazar, Bhangar which is almost 20 kms from Kolkata claimed three lives after a brief circuit triggered the blaze. Exploding kerosene drums despatched the flames into an adjoining eatery, store and home.
The eatery proprietor and two teenage staff who entered the premises to avoid wasting valuables have been trapped inside and died. A number of fireplace engines have been deployed to deliver down the blaze.
- Bagree market fireplace (September 16, 2018)
An enormous fireplace introduced down Kolkata’s century-old Bagree Market on Canning Road in September 2018 to ashes, destroying retailers and items that affected practically 1,000 enterprise institutions.
The blaze was fuelled by the big portions of inflammable supplies saved inside. Round 35 fireplace tenders have been deployed.
No deaths have been reported, however six folks, together with two firefighters, fell in poor health after inhaling poisonous smoke.
- Calcutta Medical Faculty fireplace( October 3, 2018)
A hearth broke out on the Calcutta Medical Faculty and Hospital in central Kolkata, prompting the evacuation of practically 250 sufferers as thick smoke unfold by way of the premises.
The blaze began within the hospital’s pharmacy. Greater than 10 fireplace engines have been deployed to deliver the state of affairs below management.
- Kolkata Metro fireplace (December 27, 2018)
A hearth broke out in a Kolkata Metro Dum-Dum-bound rack throughout the night rush hour, triggering panic amongst passengers and leaving at the very least 16 folks injured.
The prepare caught fireplace in its electrical unit shortly after leaving Maidan station round 5 pm. Dense smoke rapidly stuffed the coach, forcing passengers to scramble for security and making a stampede-like state of affairs.
- New Market fireplace (Might 18, 2015)
New Market in central Kolkata was hit by a significant fireplace in 2015, with three firefighters sustaining accidents whereas battling the blaze. The fireplace broke out within the wholesale fish part of the practically 150-year-old market.
Twenty fireplace engines have been deployed to deliver the blaze below management.
- Surya Sen market fireplace (February 27, 2013)
Surya Sen Market in Sealdah, positioned in central Kolkata, was engulfed in a blaze and smoke in 2013 that killed practically 20 labourers who have been asleep inside locked godowns. Unable to flee, many died of suffocation.
In keeping with studies, greater than 50 folks have been injured.
- Amri Hospital fireplace (December 9, 2011)
The fireplace started within the basement of AMRI Hospital in Dhakuria within the early hours. Poisonous fumes unfold by way of the constructing’s central air-conditioning system, inflicting the deaths of virtually 93 folks, together with sufferers and employees.
The tragedy additionally triggered felony motion in opposition to the hospital’s administration. Six members of AMRI’s board, together with industrialists S.Ok. Todi and R.S. Goenka, who have been reported to be among the many hospital’s house owners, surrendered at a neighborhood police station and have been arrested on expenses of culpable murder.
- Stephen Courtroom fireplace (March 23, 2010)
Stephen Courtroom fireplace is taken into account Kolkata’s most haunting fireplace tragedy. The fireplace began on account of {an electrical} fault within the carry shaft, which quickly was a blaze inflicting smoke to fill the higher flooring.
The catastrophe claimed 43 lives; largely personal workplace and name centre staff who couldn’t escape on account of a locked terrace gate. Outdated visuals confirmed a number of folks leaping from the constructing in desperation.
