Five Bangladeshis have been confirmed among the nine people killed in a devastating hotel fire in Kolkata, West Bengal, with four of the Bangladeshi victims identified as members of the same family, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
The fire broke out at a hotel near Kolkata’s New Market area on Tuesday night, 18 August. The busy locality was affected as flames spread through the hotel, leaving several people dead or injured. The incident has prompted an immediate response from both Indian authorities and Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission in the city.
Following reports of the fire, officials from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata reached the scene and began collecting information about Bangladeshi nationals who were killed or injured. The mission has also been coordinating with local police and hospitals to establish the identities of those affected and provide assistance where required.
According to information from the local authorities, five of the nine people who died in the fire were Bangladeshi citizens. Kolkata Police have confirmed their identities. The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission has contacted the families of the deceased, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that four of the five Bangladeshi victims belonged to the same family.
The identities of the remaining four people killed in the fire have not yet been established. Authorities are continuing the identification process, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Six Bangladeshi citizens who were injured in the incident received initial medical treatment and were subsequently discharged from hospital. Officials from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission are maintaining regular contact with the hospitals and local police to monitor the situation and ensure that the injured and the families of those killed receive the necessary assistance.
The incident has also highlighted the challenges faced by foreign nationals caught up in emergencies while staying away from home. In such situations, the identification of victims can take time, particularly when local authorities have to verify personal details and establish contact with relatives.
The New Market area is one of Kolkata’s busy commercial and visitor districts, with hotels, shops and other establishments operating in close proximity. An overnight fire in such a densely occupied area can quickly create difficulties for people inside buildings, particularly when smoke and flames restrict access to exits.
The Foreign Ministry said the Bangladesh mission in Kolkata has opened a round-the-clock helpline to assist Bangladeshi nationals affected by the incident. The facility is intended to help people seeking information about Bangladeshi victims or injured nationals and to facilitate necessary support.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry and the Deputy High Commission are continuing communication with the relevant Indian authorities over the aftermath of the fire. Their efforts include gathering verified information on the victims, maintaining contact with hospitals and police, and supporting affected Bangladeshi nationals and their families.
The identification of the four remaining victims is expected to provide further clarity on the full toll of the tragedy. Until that process is completed, Bangladeshi authorities are relying on information formally confirmed by the local authorities before communicating further details to families.
