Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:41am on 19 Aug 2026,Wednesday India
At least nine people, including a four-year-old child and several Bangladeshi nationals, were killed after a fire broke out early Wednesday in a five-storey building housing multiple hotels on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata. The blaze erupted around 1:45 a.m., with dense smoke hampering rescue efforts. Six people were injured, while around 80 occupants were rescued by firefighters and disaster-management teams. Authorities suspect a short circuit, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Officials have also raised concerns over possible fire-safety and construction violations. Police said the building’s owner has fled, while legal proceedings and further investigations are underway. (PC: X)
