In West Bengal, nine people have been killed and six others injured in a fire at a hotel on Free School Street in New Market area in Kolkata early this morning.
Police sources informed that the fire broke out at around 2 a.m. and thick smoke began billowing from the third floor of the five-storey building, located right next to the fire brigade headquarters.
Preliminary investigation revealed the hotel reportedly had no fire safety or firefighting system. Questions are being raised over how a hotel was allowed to operate in a five-storey building in the heart of central Kolkata, apparently evading police surveillance.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief over the loss of life in the fire.
In a social media post, the President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister expressed their condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in the incident. They also prayed for the swift recovery of those who have been injured.