No compensation discussion as 7 bodies to return from Kolkata
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
The devastating Tuesday night fire that claimed nine lives at the Shikha Inn hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in New Market area, Kolkata, India continued to echo on Thursday.
Latest reports confirm that seven of the deceased are Bangladeshi citizens, while the remaining two are Indian nationals.
Amidst the grief, questions have emerged regarding when the bodies of the Bangladeshi citizens will return home, whether the families will receive compensation, and who ultimately bears the responsibility for the disaster.
A source suggested that the bodies of the seven Bangladeshis might return home on Friday, though no official entity has provided a statement on the matter.
Preparations underway to return victims’ bodies
Officials have finalized preparations to repatriate the seven bodies. Authorities confirmed the identities of S M Alimuzzaman, 45, and Reboti Sarkar - both residents of Kaliganj Upazila in the Satkhira - by cross-referencing Bangladesh High Commission documents, hotel registries, and passport records.
Alimuzzaman, a businessman, had traveled to Kolkata to seek medical treatment. Reboti was also staying in Kolkata for medical purposes. Most of the seven identified Bangladeshi nationals had traveled to India for medical care.
Medical examiners determined that suffocation from dense smoke inhalation caused most of the deaths. While authorities are processing the paperwork following the autopsies to facilitate the repatriation, the government has not yet announced a specific official schedule regarding the exact day or time the bodies will cross the border into Bangladesh.
However, a Kolkata police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the border closed at 8 pm on Thursday, meaning there is a possibility of sending them on Friday.
Indian High Commission pledges support amid compensation silence
Dinesh Trivedi, the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, expressed grief over the accident. He announced that officials will make every effort to secure all necessary support for the affected families.
The statement delivered a clear message that the Indian High Commission will provide full administrative cooperation, including assisting with the repatriation of the bodies.
In contrast, the West Bengal State Government has yet to make any announcement regarding separate financial compensation for the families of the deceased. As a result, whether the state government will provide any targeted financial packages for the deceased Bangladeshi citizens remains completely unanswered.
Hotel lessee arrested as investigators probe fire causes
Investigators are examining a short circuit as the primary potential cause of the blaze. Out of the ten guests staying at the hotel at the time, only two survived. Firefighters rescued the two survivors after they managed to climb out of a window and stand on an exterior cornice.
As part of the investigation, Kolkata Police arrested Abu Jafar, the individual who holds the lease for the hotel. Officers arrested him on Wednesday in the Entally Main Market area. Police have also detained and are actively interrogating the hotel manager and other staff members.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is scrutinizing all variables, including the validity of the hotel lease, fire safety protocols, the conduct of the employees, and the exact point of origin of the fire.
Local establishments face closure over safety violations
Kolkata Fire Department issued show-cause notices to 13 local establishments, consisting of nine guesthouses and four restaurant-cum-bars on Mirza Ghalib Street.
The department ordered them to submit details regarding their fire safety systems within 24 hours. Failure to provide a satisfactory response could result in the permanent closure of these businesses.
The fire safety measures at the Shikha Inn hotel itself have drawn severe scrutiny. Allegations indicate that the hotel lacked proper firefighting equipment and a functioning fire alarm system.
Employees had blocked the rear emergency exit. Investigators believe that the extremely narrow corridors, wooden false ceilings, and trapped heavy smoke rendered the fire far more lethal.
