After CM’s visit, Mechhua fire singes Park Street biz complex
Times of India | 3 May 2025
Kolkata: The Mechhua fire tragedy had its fallout on Thursday as CM Mamata Banerjee visited Celica Park, a business-cum-entertainment hub on Park Street, for a surprise inspection and called out multiple outlets that were found violating fire safety norms.
"We do not want people to be arrested but corrective steps need to be taken. It cannot be just about business and making money. I will not spare anyone even if one life is lost," the CM said. Pointing to rows of LPG cylinders meant for Celica park eateries stacked on one side of a building's entrance, Banerjee said, "Fifty thousand people will die if so many gas cylinders explode. The mayor, police commissioner and fire services minister will meet and arrive at a decision (on this)."
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A day after the CM's visit to Celica Park, KMC buildings department demolished a portion of a structure on the terrace where lounge bar LMNOQ Skybar operates. Earlier in the day, KMC had slapped a closure notice on the facility citing multiple irregularities. "We carried out the demolition between 4 pm and 6 pm," a civic official said.
A little before her Celica Park visit on Thursday, the CM went to the Mechhua fire spot where she made it clear that she would act tough in situations where lives and safety of people were compromised, "None (responsible for the hotel fire) will be spared," she said, flanked by mayor Firhad Hakim, fire services minister Sujit Bose, industries minister Shashi Panja and Kolkata police commissioner Manoj Varma. Fourteen people died in the Mechhua fire on Tuesday that turned Rituraj Hotel into a gas chamber.
Fourteen people – including two children – died in the Mechhua fire on Tuesday that turned Rituraj Hotel into a gas chamber.
"It's the hotel owners' responsibility to ensure safety of guests. But still they will not renew licence, they will flout rules, they will do business only to make money. They do not care about human lives," Banerjee told local traders near the fire-ravaged hotel, pointing out that most of the deaths there were due to asphyxiation as there was no route for the smoke to escape. She added, "Please do not play with fire. Only those who lose their loved ones in a fire understand the pain. And, this can happen to each one of us if we do not take precautions."
A little later, while inspecting a Celica Park building, the CM pointed out that one of the terraces had been converted into a restaurant. "There is only one stairway to come down from there. No one has the right to shut the terrace. It is an open space. But a restaurant has been built. During an emergency, people cannot gather on the terrace," she said, adding that she was informed about this by someone who recently visited a restaurant at Celica Park and urged her to take immediate steps. The owners were reluctant to act even after being issued notices, she said.
Referring to Burrabazar's brush with fires in the past, the CM said, "I urge KMC and the fire department to hold meetings in the next 2-3 days and begin relocating residents from old and dilapidated buildings. Property disputes cannot be left unresolved indefinitely. I understand that court cases are on, but human lives must take priority. We cannot wait for 30-40 years for the cases to be resolved."
Urging people to repair their properties, Banerjee said, "You may not vote for me, but please ensure your own safety first. Please repair them. We do not want to evict anyone, but you must stay alert. Even if your property is stuck in litigation, find a way to make the necessary repairs. Life is precious."