Blaze at Rituraj Hotel Claims 15 Lives: Kolkata Grieves Another Fire Tragedy
Panic, Jumps from Rooftop, and Smoke Suffocation: SIT Probes Fire Safety Failures
30 April 2025, New Delhi
A massive fire broke out at Rituraj Hotel in Kolkata’s bustling Burrabazar area on Tuesday night, killing 15 people, including two children and a woman. What began as a routine evening quickly turned into chaos as flames and thick smoke engulfed the six-storey building, trapping guests and staff.
Most victims died from suffocation, with many bodies recovered from the staircase. One person died after jumping from the roof in panic.
Hydraulic ladders were used to rescue at least 25 individuals from rooms, balconies, and the rooftop, according to confirmation from Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim and Police Commissioner Manoj Verma.
West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose said a forensic probe has been launched to determine the cause and assess the failure of the hotel’s fire safety systems.
The incident has raised serious concerns about fire preparedness in congested urban settings. Preliminary reports indicate the absence or malfunction of fire suppression systems, prompting a review of the hotel’s safety clearances.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish on social media. Along with the Chief Minister, he stated that the PM’s National Relief Fund would provide ex gratia payments of ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to each injured individual.
The state has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the cause and examine safety compliance. Leaders have called for more control after the disaster, which has led to criticism of the fire regulations’ inadequate enforcement.
Fires remain a recurring danger in India due to widespread violations of safety norms—this tragedy follows a similar fire in New Delhi in 2022 that claimed 27 lives.
This incident underscores the urgent need for stricter fire safety enforcement, especially in high-density areas.
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