A Tamil Nadu family, whose vacation ended in tragedy after a fire at Kolkata’s Rituraj Hotel, has now contacted the Kolkata Police regarding missing ornaments from the bodies of their loved ones who perished in the blaze.
T Prabhu and his family, who were on a holiday with Darjeeling as their final stop, reached Kolkata on April 29 to board a train back to Chennai. They stayed overnight in the hotel before their scheduled departure — but tragedy struck before they could leave.
In the fire, T Prabhu lost his two children, P Diya (10) and P Rithan (3 years and 8 months old), and his father-in-law, L S Muthukrishnan (61). The couple returned to Karur in Tamil Nadu with the bodies of the three deceased family members.
T Prabhu has now alleged that ornaments belonging to his children and father-in-law have gone missing. He also claimed that the mobile phone and wallet of his father-in-law is missing.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Prabhu said, “We have informed the Kolkata Police about this from Tamil Nadu. They have said they are looking into the matter and if they get anything, they will certainly inform us.”
Sources from Lalbazar confirmed that Jorasanko police have launched an investigation. According to Prabhu, his children and father-in-law were wearing ornaments at the time of the incident, but these were not present when the bodies were returned. The couple said they were not in a mental state at the time to report the matter. Last Friday, they contacted an officer at Lalbazar to formally raise the issue.
The couple has submitted a detailed list of the missing items: daughter Diya had a silver necklace and a silver hip belt; son Rithan had a gold kara; and Muthukrishnan was wearing a gold chain and a gold ring. His wallet and mobile phone are also missing.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Madhumita, Prabhu’s wife, said, “These are not just valuables, they are the last memories that we would have of them. My father had called from that mobile on the fateful night. He said there was a fire and that smoke was entering the rooms.”
Prabhu and Madhumita had stepped out to buy food when the fire broke out at the hotel in Machuabazar, Burrabazar, on Tuesday night. Madhumita’s father had stayed behind with the children inside the hotel room, where they succumbed to toxic smoke inhalation.
Prabhu has requested the Kolkata Police to help them recover the belongings. The family said an official from Lalbazar informed them that it is currently unclear whether the ornaments were on the bodies when recovered, or whether they may have been removed during the autopsy.
Police officials have assured the family that they will speak to those present during the autopsy. Additionally, they will conduct a search of Room 313 of the hotel, where the family had been staying. According to the couple, police have stated that belongings of the deceased are being collected and will be handed over to the family after completing formalities. Photographs and all relevant documents have already been submitted to the police.
The devastating fire on April 29 claimed 14 lives at Rituraj Hotel in Machuabazar, Burrabazar. For T Prabhu and Madhumita, who lost everything that night, the only closure they seek now is the return of the personal belongings of those they loved and lost.