A devastating fire at the Rituraj Hotel in Kolkata on Tuesday evening resulted in at least 14 fatalities, including two children. The blaze, reported to have started in a first-floor room, necessitated the rescue of around 20 guests from the roof and ledges. Most victims were found in the staircase, suspected to have perished from asphyxiation. Authorities have ordered a forensic inquiry to determine the fire's cause and the failures of the hotel’s fire safety systems. Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences to the victims' families.
The forensic team is visiting the site today and an inquiry has been ordered to find out the cause of the fire. It will also look into why the hotel's inbuilt fire fighting system did not work.
Photos and videos carried in Indian media showed people trying to escape through the windows and along ledges.
Most of the dead were found in the hotel's staircase, and asphyxiation was suspected to be the main cause of death.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of those killed. 'May the injured recover soon,' his office said in a statement.
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