FirstAlerts

Nine Dead in Kolkata Hotel Fire; Owner in Custody

Nine people died in the August 19 fire at Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street; police have identified the owner, who is in custody.

2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 22, 2026, 2:23 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 22, 2026, 12:37 p.m. ETWritten Aug 22, 2026, 2:53 p.m. ET
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Police have identified the owner of the hotel where a fire killed people on August 19, according to the Indian Express. The owner is , police said. The fire engulfed on Mirza Ghalib Street in Central early Wednesday, August 19. The death toll stands at , police told the Indian Express. Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul said, "Notices do not serve any purpose. If guests are staying in the hotel, give them 24 hours to vacate and then seal it. If all the documents are subsequently found to be in order, it can be reopened." Police, the Municipal Corporation, and the fire department responded to the incident.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 22, 2026, 2:23 p.m. ETFirst report

    Nine Dead in Kolkata Hotel Fire; Owner in Custody

    A massive fire engulfed Shikha Inn, a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata, early on Wednesday, August 19, killing nine people, according to police. The fire department and Kolkata Police responded to the incident, which is no longer active.

    Police have taken the hotel's owner, Bireshwar Mitra, into custody in connection with the incident. The identities of the deceased have not been released by officials.

    Agnimitra Paul, West Bengal's Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister, said, "Notices do not serve any purpose. If guests are staying in the hotel, give them 24 hours to vacate and then seal it. If all the documents are subsequently found to be in order, it can be reopened." The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is also involved in the response.

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Revision history

  1. Version 122 Aug 2026, 18:23current

    First published.

  2. Version 122 Aug 2026, 18:53current

    First published.

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