Kolkata, West Bengal minister Kaushik Chowdhury on Wednesday said prompt action by the Fire Brigade Department resulted in the rescue of around 80 people from a central Kolkata building that was partially gutted in a devastating blaze, which claimed nine lives.
On August 17, nine people had died in a hotel fire at Tarapith in Birbhum district.
He said that prima facie, the cause of death of the nine people appears to be asphyxia, as burn injuries were not found on most of the deceased. “We have been able to rescue around 80 people from the building,” the Fire and Emergency Services Department minister told reporters at the spot on Mirza Ghalib Street. A four-year-old child and two women were among the dead, while six others were injured in the blaze at the five-storey building that houses several hotels, police said. Among those rescued, a couple were taken out from the only window in the affected portion, Chowdhury said. “Others could also have been saved had there been windows and proper arrangements,” he said. “We got information around 2.07 am and the rescue operation was launched at 2.08 am,” the minister said. Chowdhury said such issues will be addressed during the forensic investigation of the affected building.
