West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday visited the fire-ravaged hotel at Kolkata’s Burrabazar and promised: “Nobody will be spared, whoever is involved in this fire, even if any people’s representative is involved.”

On April 29, a massive fire broke out at the first floor of the Rituraj Hotel in the Burrabazar area, which claimed 14 lives. According to police sources, a suo moto case had been filed by the Jorasanko Police station and another case had been filed by the Fire department.

At the time of the incident, Banerjee was in Digha for the inauguration of a Jagannath Temple. Fire Minister Sujit Bose also was in Digha. Opposition parties criticised Banerjee and Bose for staying in Digha even after the incident happened in Kolkata.

Banerjee on Thursday during her visit to the hotel said, “I was monitoring the whole thing from Digha. I instructed Shashi (Panja, state Minister of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare) and others to rush to the spot, also talked with police and fire brigade and gave necessary instructions.”

She then added, “We almost saved 90% of the lives but some rooms were locked and fire brigade personnel failed to open those rooms. It’s unfortunate.”

“Some owners used fire to destroy some evidence or documents but I must say to them: don’t play with fire. If you don’t want to vote for me, I have no problem, but don’t play with fire. It is easy to start fires but tough to stop them… We have already arrested the owner and manager of the hotel,” said the Chief Minister.

She said that a committee will be formed with the Commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Commissioner of Kolkata police, the Mayor of Kolkata, the Deputy Commissioners of Kolkata Police, officers of the fire brigade and other officials. “The committee will soon report to me about the fire fighting system of the buildings,” said Banerjee. She also ordered the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to survey old and dangerous buildings.