A fire at a hotel in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday killed at least nine people and injured several more, according to a senior fire department officer.
“Nine people were killed, including a child, in the inferno that broke out early on Wednesday,” Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, told AFP.
“Thick smoke enveloped the hotel. Some victims were found in the bathrooms.”
According to Sharma, preliminary evidence suggests that an air conditioner in the budget motel exploded, causing the inferno.
He also stated that nine people—six men, two women, and a child—were rescued and transported to the hospital.
According to Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal’s ruling party, some of the fatalities appeared to be Bangladeshi nationals seeking medical care in Kolkata.
“We are trying to confirm the nationality of the victims,” he told reporters.
The hotel had 60 guests when the fire broke out.
Building fires are widespread in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and a general disregard for safety rules.
