Bereaved family from Tamil Nadu alleges jewellery, cell phone missing after Mechhua fire
Times of India | 7 May 2025
12 Kolkata: A grieving family from Tamil Nadu, who lost three of their kin in a devastating fire, reported missing jewellery and personal belongings following a tragic hotel fire in Kolkata's Jorasanko area that claimed three lives earlier this week. They have now faced the unkindest cut.T Prabhu, whose two children and father-in-law perished in the blaze at the Mechhua hotel, filed a complaint with Kolkata Police regarding missing gold and silver jewellery, a wallet, and a mobile phone belonging to the deceased family members. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when Prabhu and his wife, Madhumita, stepped out to purchase food, leaving their children—Rithan (3) and Diya (10)—with Madhumita's father, S Muthukrishnan, in room 313. All three victims succumbed to toxic gas inhalation during the fire.You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in KolkataAccording to Prabhu's complaint, the missing items include Muthukrishnan's wallet, mobile phone, gold chain, and ring, along with his children's jewellery—a bracelet from his son's right hand and a silver chain and silver hip belt from his daughter. The mobile phone holds particular significance as it was used by Muthukrishnan to make his final call to Madhumita, warning her about the fire and smoke in their room. "These items are not just valuable possessions but the last memories of our children," Prabhu stated in his complaint.Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar confirmed that Jorasanko police station has initiated an investigation into the matter. A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "We are examining whether the jewellery was present during body recovery and if it was removed during the autopsy process."Police sources said that the ornaments were removed from the three victims in order to complete the postmortem. "They will be returned at the earliest," claimed a police source. The cops, though, stated that they are investigating where the mobile fell. "It seems that the mobile was left behind in the hotel room. The search for it is on," said the officer. Senior police officers, DC (Central) Indira Mukherjee and Jorasanko cops, refused to even reply to calls and texts on this issue.Investigators plan to interview personnel present during the autopsy and conduct another thorough search of room 313. The official noted that the bereaved family, while identifying the bodies, may have overlooked the missing items due to their emotional state. The case highlights concerns about the security of victims' belongings during emergency situations and subsequent procedures. Police have assured the family of a thorough investigation into the matter.