At least nine people including a child were killed in a fire at a hotel in Kolkata, eastern India early Wednesday. Local police said several others were injured.
The fire started around 2:50 a.m. on the second floor of the hotel and was brought under control within an hour a senior police officer told Reuters. About 30 people were safely evacuated. Officials believe an electrical short circuit may have caused the blaze though the exact cause is still being investigated.
At least six injured people are receiving hospital treatment according to local media.
News agency ANI citing the fire department reported that some of the dead were Bangladeshi citizens who had traveled to Kolkata for medical treatment. NDTV went further reporting that all nine victims were Bangladeshi nationals. However, the senior police officer said the nationalities of the deceased had not yet been officially confirmed.
The hotel is located in a crowded part of central Kolkata an area known for budget hotels and restaurants popular among visitors including many Bangladeshis seeking medical care in the city.
A full investigation into the cause of the fire is underway and authorities have not ruled out the death toll rising further.
