• Moumi Mousumi
• 30 Apr, 2025

A catastrophic fire at Ritutaj Hotel in Kolkata’s Barabazar turned a bustling market into a scene of horror, claiming 14 lives including two children. Thick smoke trapped residents, evoking memories of past tragedies like Stephen Court. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief and announced financial aid, as the hotel manager faces arrest and the owner remains missing.

Details & Context

On the eve of Akshaya Tritiya, April 29th, 2025 a deadly fire engulfed Ritutaj Hotel in Kolkata’s Mechua fruit market, Barabazar. The six-story building at 6 Madanmohan Burman Street became a death trap as flames and dense smoke killed 14 people including two children and a woman. The hotel’s sealed windows, made of brick, prevented smoke from escaping, turning rooms into gas chambers. Of the 88 residents in 42 of the hotel’s 47 rooms, many succumbed to suffocation.

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X posts from eyewitnesses, like @KolkataPulse, describe smoke billowing from the ground-floor kitchen around 7:30–8:00 PM, rapidly spreading upward. Ten fire engines battled the blaze, with rescue operations continuing until dawn. The tragedy echoes past Kolkata fires, such as the 2010 Stephen Court and 2011 AMRI Hospital disasters, as noted in X discussions under #KolkataFire. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, monitoring the situation overnight, announced financial aid for victims’ families and ordered a probe, as shared in her X post.

The hotel manager has been detained, but the owner remains absconding, prompting an FIR. Web searches reveal Barabazar’s history of fire safety violations, with a 2023 report cited on X flagging sealed exits in commercial buildings. The lack of open windows and fire escapes at Ritutaj exacerbated the tragedy, a point raised in @BengalNews threads.

Quotes

·      “My heart weeps for the lives lost in this horrific fire. We’re investigating and supporting the affected,” Mamata Banerjee wrote on X, as paraphrased for originality.

·      “It was like a gas chamber. No way for smoke to escape,” said a local vendor, quoted in an X post by @BarabazarLive.

·      “The manager’s in custody but where’s the owner.? Justice needed.!” tweeted @KolkataCitizen, sparking heated X debates.

Additional Information

Ritutaj Hotel’s ground floor housed shops and a warehouse, with residential rooms above. Of the 14 victims, eight have been identified including a Chennai family—grandfather, 3-year-old granddaughter and 8-year-old grandson—staying in Room 313. The children’s parents were shopping when the fire broke out. Another victim, 41-year-old Rajesh Santuka from Cuttack, Odisha, a textile trader was set to board a train home at 8:30 PM. A 20-year-old from Bhagalpur, Bihar, Neeraj Kumar was also among the deceased.

Rescue efforts saved many, with survivors rushed to RG Kar, NRS and Kolkata Medical College hospitals. Two remain hospitalised, per X updates from @BengalHealth. Victims were found in rooms, corridors, bathrooms and staircases, with one dying after falling from a cornice and another while climbing down a pipe. X posts under #BarabazarFire, with 20K+ mentions, highlight public outrage over safety lapses, with users sharing images of the charred hotel.

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Impact Analysis

The fire has left Barabazar reeling, shattering families and exposing glaring safety gaps. The loss of 14 lives including a close-knit Chennai family has sparked grief across India, amplified by X posts like “A grandfather and kids gone too soon #KolkataFire.” Economically, the tragedy disrupts Mechua’s vibrant market, affecting traders and workers. The hotel manager’s arrest and the owner’s absence fuel public anger, with @JusticeForBengal demanding accountability.

The incident raises questions about fire safety in Kolkata’s commercial hubs. Web reports note recurring violations in Barabazar, with sealed windows and inadequate exits common.

The Ritutaj Hotel fire is a heart breaking wake-up call for Kolkata. As the city mourns, authorities must enforce stricter safety norms to prevent such tragedies. The Chief Minister’s aid offers relief but justice and systemic change are crucial to honour the 14 lives lost.

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