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Kolkata, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The West Bengal Fire Services Department on Friday issued show-cause notices to 17 more hotels in and around Kolkata's congested Mirza Ghalib Street area over alleged deficiencies in fire safety arrangements.

The latest action follows similar notices issued on Thursday to nine hotels and guest houses in the locality, taking the total number of establishments served notices to 26.

The 17 establishments served notices on Friday have been asked to respond within 24 hours. Officials have warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response could lead to orders for closure of the establishments.

The crackdown follows a deadly fire at Shikha Inn in the area during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, in which nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals, were killed.

The victims comprised six men, two women and a child. According to the report, most of the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation and suffocation rather than burn injuries.

Police arrested Shikha Inn leaseholder Abu Zafar on Thursday. He was produced before a city court and remanded in police custody until September 2. The hotel's original owner, Bireshwar Mitra, remains absconding.

Zafar had reportedly taken the hotel on lease from Mitra under an arrangement involving a monthly payment of Rs 40,000.

The five-storey building where the fire broke out housed several hotels and guest houses, each operating in separate spaces. Shikha Inn was located on the third floor and occupied around 1,100 square feet.

The West Bengal government has ordered a detailed special audit of hotels, lodges and guest houses in the Mirza Ghalib Street area following the incident.

The New Market Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the building, has registered a suo motu case, while the state Fire Services Department has also filed a separate complaint.

The BJP has accused the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government of negligence over the fire. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and state Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul have questioned how the establishments obtained trade licenses without what they described as minimum safety provisions.