Fire lapses, bldg plan tweak at Kolkata hotel, confirms report
Times of India | 4 May 2025
Kolkata: The six-storey hotel in Mechhua did not adhere to the sanctioned building plans and operated without fire safety measures when the blaze broke out, revealed the initial forensic report.
The report, which was shared with the police on Saturday, also stated that there was no firefighting system, and the second staircase was blocked. The initial forensic report has confirmed the initial findings of the fire brigade and police. It also took into account the autopsy report.
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"It is not clear if the fire was initiated from a sudden spark when work was going on, or it was due to a cigarette butt being thrown carelessly on combustible interior design items, or a sudden burst of flames during cooking. Prima facie, though the third option is the likeliest, we will wait for further tests ," said an officer from the SIT.
"The hotel was extending its bar on the first floor, adjoining the kitchen. The labourers recruited by Khurshid Alam (contractor engaged for interior work at the hotel) cooked there every day. According to the forensic findings based on the chemicals collected from the spot, the fire started from there and not the kitchen," explained a detective department official.
Local residents reported that the hotel, previously used for weddings, underwent unauthorised modifications over time. These alterations included sealing off of one of two staircases and closing several windows, significantly changing the building's interior while maintaining its external appearance. Cops also revealed that Alam was quizzed on Saturday and some of his employees would also be summoned .
Alam's defence lawyer argued in court that his client was merely an interior designer with proper work permits and municipal licences and had no connection with the cooking operations. Police sources revealed they are probing whether the hotel had the necessary permits after its fire licence expired. They are keen on examining the ownership transfer of the first-floor following the death of its previous owner, Vivek Chawla.