Kolkata Hotel Fire: Fourth Arrest Made As Probe Reveals Shocking Lapses

Kolkata Police on Monday arrested Muhammad Sagir Ali, the supervisor of the hotel where a deadly fire broke out on 29 April, marking the fourth arrest in the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have accused Ali of being primarily responsible for storing inflammable materials within the premises and overseeing the hotel’s interior decoration, which investigators believe contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.

According to police sources, Ali played a central role in creating the hazardous environment that led to the blaze, which claimed 15 lives and left several others injured.

Hotel Owner And Manager Arrested Earlier

This arrest follows the detainment of hotel owner Akash Chawla and manager Gaurav Kapur on 1 May, just two days after the incident.

A day later, police also arrested Khurshid Alam, whose agency was responsible for ongoing renovation and extension work at Hotel Rituraj, located on Madan Mohan Burman Street in central Kolkata.

Initial findings from the investigative team have revealed major violations of fire safety norms.

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Authorities noted a disturbing lack of emergency evacuation protocols and poor ventilation, which significantly worsened the situation during the fire.

Tragically, most of the victims died from smoke inhalation and suffocation, not burns.

These revelations have sparked public outrage, with many questioning how such a tragedy could occur in a busy part of the city.

Locals Blame Civic Inaction

Local residents expressed anger at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and city police, accusing them of ignoring repeated complaints about illegal construction at the hotel.

According to several residents, warnings were issued long before the fire, but no preventive action was taken.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have offered financial compensation to the families of those killed and injured.

In a statement, Mamata Banerjee vowed strict action against all those found responsible and said the government would not tolerate such criminal negligence.

Next Steps In The Investigation

With four arrests made and a wider probe underway, the Kolkata Police continue to examine other potential lapses and responsibilities.

As the city mourns the loss of life, attention now turns to ensuring justice and implementing reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.