At least nine people, including a child, have died after a fire broke out at a hotel in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday.
The blaze reportedly started in the early hours of the day, sending thick smoke through the building and trapping some guests inside.
“Nine people were killed, including a child, in the fire 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.”
Sharma said preliminary findings indicated that an air conditioner at the budget hotel may have exploded, triggering the fire.
He added that nine other people, comprising six men, two women and a child, were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.
Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal’s ruling party, said some of the victims were believed to be Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment.
“We are trying to confirm the nationality of the victims,” he told reporters.
About 60 guests were reportedly staying at the hotel when the fire broke out.
Building fires remain a recurring problem in India, with poor access to firefighting equipment and alleged breaches of safety regulations often contributing to such incidents.
