Kolkata hotel fire: 'It was like a horror movie scene', recounts guest
Horrified guests rescued from a devastating blaze at a Kolkata hotel that claimed nine lives in the early hours of Wednesday, Aug 19th recounted a night of terror, as dark smoke engulfed the second and third floors of the dilapidated building with little hope of escape. Many said there were no fire alarms or safety equipment in place.
Nine people, including a four-year-old child and two women, were killed in the fire at the cramped central Kolkata building, which houses several hotels. Prompt action by fire brigade personnel saved around 80 lives, said West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Kaushik Chowdhury.
A Bangladeshi national staying at the hotel said he had tried to alert staff, who were asleep when the blaze broke out around 2 am. "Dark smoke engulfed the second and third floors of the building, and it was hard to escape, as the fire was raging near the staircase," said the man, still dressed in the vest and lungi he had worn to bed. He said he could not salvage any belongings as he scrambled to safety.
Ejaz Ahmed, a resident of Birbhum who had checked in on Tuesday evening, thanked the fire brigade for saving his life. "I was helped by two fire brigade officials in coming down from the upper floors and out of the building to safety, as I was trying to find my way out in the darkness," he said.
A local resident described the scene as horrific, with people trapped inside crying for help amid the blaze. "It was like a scene from a horror movie," he said, adding that the hotel had only one entrance leading to the staircase, which worsened the situation.
Meena Devi, who lives in a flat on an upper floor of the building, alleged there was no fire safety arrangement on the premises. "We were brought out by the fire brigade personnel and the staff of one of the several hotels operating from the building, amid dense smoke," she said.
The fire came days after another blaze at a hotel in Tarapith, Birbhum district which also claimed nine lives.
