The West Bengal government has taken significant action against hotels in central Kolkata for failing to comply with fire safety regulations. On Friday, authorities shut down 13 hotels and ordered 16 others to vacate their premises. Additionally, show-cause notices were issued to 50 hotels in the city and 29 in various districts across the state.
Officials stated that these measures were necessary to ensure public safety and enforce compliance with established fire safety norms.
Fire Safety Violations Lead to Hotel Closures in Kolkata
In a recent enforcement action, authorities have ordered at least 16 hotels in central Kolkata to shut down due to violations of fire safety regulations. This decision follows the issuance of show-cause notices to more than 50 hotels across the city since Thursday. A senior officer from the state fire department confirmed these developments.
This comes three days after an early morning blaze in central Kolkata’s Shikha Inn Hotel killed nine people on Wednesday. Officials aware of the matter said that six bodies of the Bangladeshis killed in the fire were taken to Bangladesh, while one was cremated in Kolkata on Friday. Officials aware of the developments said that the six bodies of Bangladeshis, killed in the central Kolkata hotel-fire, were likely to be taken to Bangladesh by road on Saturday. Rebati Sarker, one of the deceased, who had come to Kolkata with her son, was cremated in Kolkata on Friday night, her husband confirmed from Satkhira, Bangladesh.
Police have arrested the lease holder of the hotel, while the owner is absconding. “Actions have been initiated. “Inspection is going on. This will continue. We will not allow such tinderboxes to operate. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) must take responsibility of these. The rooms were cramped. How did they get a trade license and fire license? “Some of the hotels were running without any fire license. The licenses had expired four to five years ago and weren’t renewed. Five bodies will enter Bangladesh through the Benapole border, and one will enter through the Bhomra border.
They were using more electricity than permitted due to air-conditioners. At least 80 people were rescued. We will not stop after closing down 100 hotels. Fire brigade officials said that at least 29 hotels in various districts have been issued notices to show cause why they shouldn’t be closed down for failing to comply with fire safety norms.
A few officers have also been issued show-cause notices,” said Kaushik Chowdhury, state fire minister. If they don’t follow rules, they will be shut down,” said Agnimitra Paul, state urban development minister. There were no proper exits, locked emergency gates, hotels were drawing more electricity than applied for, rooms without ventilation, changed floor plans and several other violations,” said a senior official.
