Tag: Kolkata

17May By source belowNo Comments

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Ahead of 2026 Assembly polls, CM Mamata going on a 3-day visit to North Bengal; TMC expects more Oppn leaders to join party

To bolster Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) influence in North Bengal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be on a three-day visit to the region from May 19, especially when the 2026 Assembly election is barely a few months away. Days before her visit, the party camp received a shot in the arm as former Union Minister of State and BJP MP John Barla switched over to TMC on May 15. The party workers have an inkling that the CM’s visit to North Bengal will influence more Opposition leaders to TMC and thereby strengthen their base in a fairly weaker front in North Bengal. Banerjee has already announced that on Monday, she will attend a “synergy” business conference and on Tuesday, a government distribution programme at Odlabari. Story continues below this ad The main pro...

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17May By source belowNo Comments

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ECI suspends West Bengal official for ‘dereliction in discharge of duties’

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended Arun Gorain, assistant system manager of Kakdwip subdivision in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, for alleged gross misconduct after getting complaints from the district administration. Acting on the instructions of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the chief electoral officer of West Bengal placed Gorain under immediate suspension. He was found guilty of gross misconduct in the discharge of his official duties, with malafide intent, officials said. Gorain allegedly committed fraud and cheating by unauthorisedly inserting his mobile number into the login credentials of the assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) for Assembly Constituency 131 (Kakdwip). Using the OTP received on his mobile, he disposed of ap...

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17May By source belowNo Comments

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How Kolkata improved its air quality within 6 years

Over a span of six years, Kolkata has demonstrated a remarkable turnaround in its air quality, transforming from one of the most polluted cities in the country in 2019 to being nationally recognised for its improved environmental standards in 2025. This progress has earned the city the third-highest performance-based incentive from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Story continues below this ad In 2019, Kolkata was listed among the Top 10 most polluted cities by the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). At the time, the city’s annual average PM10 level was recorded at 100 micrograms per cubic meter. Additionally, the annual average AQI at the Fort William green zone automated air monitoring station reached 343 in 2019 –categorised as ‘very poor’...

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17May By source belowNo Comments

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Kolkata Corporation drafts rules for uniform standards for conservation, management of heritage structures in city

Written by Sharadiya Mitra Kolkata city’s right architectural legacy stands poised for consistent preservation, as the civic body has recently drafted a set of updated rules to ensure uniform standards for the conservation and management of all listed heritage structures in the city. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has forwarded the draft guidelines to the West Bengal government for approval so that the architectural relics are conserved through enforceable preservation rules. Story continues below this ad Experts feel that this step would significantly bring in a comprehensive system to protect the heritage structures dotting Kolkata city despite decades of identification and documentation. Despite having a structured approach, the existing conservation rules and ...

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16May By source belowNo Comments

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Now, a robot can self-detect crop diseases and spray pesticides, courtesy IIT KGP

At IIT Kharagpur’s Mechanical Engineering department, a remarkable innovation in smart farming has taken shape: a machine that will deploy pesticides after detecting plant diseases. “This breakthrough aims to address key challenges faced by farmers and enhance agricultural efficiency,” said Professor Dilip Kumar Pratihar. Under his leadership, a team of PhD and project students has successfully developed a semi-automatic tracked mobile manipulator cum agricultural robotic system. Story continues below this ad “The robot has already been tested both inside the lab as well as on the ground outside the lab. We are trying to test it on the agricultural field of our campus within the next six months. We are also searching for some industries for its transfer,” he said. “Once th...

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15May By source belowNo Comments

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Protesting sacked Bengal teachers clash with police, break open Education Dept headquarters gate

The teachers who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order over allegations of irregularities in their recruitment clashed with police during a protest on Thursday and broke open the main gate of Bikash Bhavan, the West Bengal Education Department headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata.More than 1,000 sacked teachers — identified as “not specifically tainted” and allowed to return to schools until December — have been staging a sit-in outside Bikash Bhavan since Wednesday afternoon as part of the “Bikash Bhawan Abhijan” against the School Education Department and the School Service Commission (SSC) for filing a review petition in the Supreme Court allegedly without consulting them. A large contingent of police, along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, were deployed at the protest s...

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14May By source belowNo Comments

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When and where you can observe ‘zero shadow day’ in Bengal

Several districts across West Bengal are set to witness the rare and scientifically significant phenomenon of Zero Shadow Day (ZSD) during the months of June and July this year. “In Kolkata, Zero Shadow will occur on June 5 and July 7,” said Debapriya Roy, Head of Positional Astronomy Centre of Kolkata. Story continues below this ad This astronomical event, which occurs twice a year in regions situated between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, takes place when the Sun is positioned directly overhead at local noon, causing objects to cast no shadow for a brief period. In 2025, the Zero Shadow phenomenon will be observed in multiple districts of the state, including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, Medinipur, Bankura, and Purulia. According to the Astronomical Society of...

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13May By source belowNo Comments

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HC allows plea alleging ‘irregularities’ in functioning of Digha Jagannath temple

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted permission for filing a petition alleging “irregularities” in the administration and functioning of the newly inaugurated Jagannath Dham temple in West Bengal’s Digha. The matter was “mentioned” before the division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De, questioning how tax exemptions on donations can be justified if the temple is officially part of a “West Bengal government-funded cultural centre”. In the petition, Kaustav Bagchi, a lawyer, claimed that the temple is being operated under the guise of a private trust even as the address listed for donations is that of the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), a government agency. Story continues below this ad The petitioner sought an investigation into how...

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12May By source belowNo Comments

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Cakes, sarees, and a cricket tifo: Kolkata’s tributes to Operation Sindoor

The S-400 defense system, fighter jets, and “Operation Sindoor” on the western frontier against Pakistan have found prideful representation in an unexpected place: cakes, baked at a confectionery at Kolkata’s Entally Market, for the Indian Army. Taste & Bite, a bakery in the area, has created two cakes: one features the Sudarshan missile, with the words “Proud to be an Indian” written on it, while the second cake honors Operation Sindoor, complete with edible missile replicas. (Express photo by Partha Paul) Speaking to The Indian Express, Sourav Saha, the owner of Taste & Bite, said, “These two cakes are a tribute to our armed forces for keeping us safe and protected, especially after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. These cakes are not for sale; we want to give them to the Army as ...

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12May By source belowNo Comments

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Mother dies 4 months after being given ‘expired saline’ by West Bengal govt-run hospital

Four months after allegedly being administered contaminated saline in the West Bengal government-run Midnapore Medical College, 20-year-old Nasrin Khatun – a new mother – died on Sunday night. According to her family, her condition had remained critical since the saline administration. She was on dialysis, her heart was failing, and two days before her death, she began experiencing seizures during dialysis. She never regained consciousness and was placed on a ventilator. The incident dates back to January 2025, when a 31-year-old woman who had delivered a baby on January 8 died the next day at the state-run hospital. Her family alleged that her death was caused by the use of “expired” saline. Three other women, including Nasrin, developed complications after receiving the same saline. The ...

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11May By source belowNo Comments

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‘My husband will soon be back’: wife of Poornam Shaw, BSF jawan detained in Pakistan, hopeful after call from Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the wife of Poornam Kumar Shaw, who has been detained in Pakistan since April 23, and informed her that he was in good health, the woman said on Sunday.“I am extremely thankful to our chief minister who has just called and spoken to me in detail. The CM said she had talks with top BSF officials and that they have confirmed that my husband is in good health. This assurance coming from her is a great relief,” Rajani Shaw told The Indian Express. “I had lost all hope,” Rajani said, emphasising the fear of having her husband held in a nation in conflict with India. “But yesterday, after the ceasefire, I got a bit positive, and I have full faith in God that my husband will return safely.” Story continues below this ad India and ...

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10May By source belowNo Comments

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Heatwave predicted in West Bengal for next 3 days, mercury level likely to cross 40 degrees

Written by Adrija Datta The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata has forecast heatwave conditions and isolated thunderstorm activity across parts of West Bengal from May 11 to May 13. According to the bulletin, heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at one or two locations in the districts of West Burdwan, Birbhum, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, and Paschim Medinipur. In these areas, the maximum temperature is expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher, which is approximately 5 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. Additionally, hot and humid weather conditions are expected to affect several other districts across South Bengal. In North Bengal, heatwave conditions are likely in Malda, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur. Story continues below this ad In contr...

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8May By source belowNo Comments

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Several private schools in Bengal to close for summer from May 9, following CM’s appeal 

Written by Adrija Datta In response to an urgent appeal by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, several private schools in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal have decided to advance their summer vacation and shut down from May 9, instead of their previously scheduled dates. The move comes in the wake of escalating Indo-Pak tensions following India’s missile strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor. Story continues below this ad “In view of the present situation and to ensure the safety and well-being of students, we have decided to close our school from Friday, May 9. Initially, we had planned to close from May 16,” said Siddhartha Dey, Principal of Julien Day School. Echoing a similar sentiment, Joyoti Chaudhuri, Principal of Delhi Pu...

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8May By source belowNo Comments

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‘Ready for emergencies’: Kolkata airport on alert, officials ask passengers to verify flight status after 12 flights get cancelled in 24 hours

After the temporary closure of 18 airports across seven states in India after a recent airstrike on a Pakistan terrorist setup, authorities at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport are urging passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport. On Wednesday, 12 flights were cancelled at the Kolkata airport, comprising six departures and six arrivals. Affected flights included IX 1522 from Ghaziabad, BS 0202 from Dhaka, BS 0208 from Chattogram, 6E 0874 from Chandigarh, and IX 2509 from Srinagar, among others. Despite these cancellations, the airport did not report any significant chaos or large crowds. Story continues below this ad “Flights have been cancelled. We conducted a mock drill yesterday (Wednesday). We are totally prepared....

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7May By source belowNo Comments

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West Bengal HS topper Rupayan Pal says he studied 12-13 hours a day, wants to be a doctor 

Rupayan Pal of Burdwan CMS High School is this year’s topper in the West Bengal Higher Secondary Examination, scoring 497 (99.4%).The moment the news broke that Rupayan is this year’s topper, their residence was busy with his school teachers and neighbours visiting him and his parents to congratulate him. Rupayan Pal told The Indian Express, “I had thought I would rank, but never thought I would come first. I used to study around 12-13 hours every day and the main aim was to keep the concepts clear. I want to become a doctor, so that was my main focus. Since childhood, I was drawn towards science, and I have given some competitive exams. Let’s see what happens. I want to go to AIIMS and study.” Story continues below this ad Apart from studies, Rupayan loves to read adventu...

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7May By source belowNo Comments

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Operation Sindoor ‘brings emotional relief but can’t replace lost son’: Family of IB officer who died in Pahalgam attack

The news of “Operation Sindoor” by the Indian government has brought a mix of relief and enduring sorrow to the family of Manish Ranjan, the IB officer from West Bengal who tragically lost his life in the militant attack in Pahalgam. India on Wednesday hit nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting terrorist infrastructure there. The strike came two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack. While the family welcomes the operation as a step towards justice, the void left by Manish’s passing remains immense. In a telephonic conversation with The Indian Express, Manish’s father said, “I would say whichever country gives shelter to terrorists should face such consequences. The fight against terrorists must continue.” Story continues below this ad The profoun...

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7May By source belowNo Comments

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‘Jewellery, valuables missing or stolen’: Tamil Nadu family who lost 2 children, senior citizen in Kolkata hotel fire

A Tamil Nadu family, whose vacation ended in tragedy after a fire at Kolkata’s Rituraj Hotel, has now contacted the Kolkata Police regarding missing ornaments from the bodies of their loved ones who perished in the blaze.T Prabhu and his family, who were on a holiday with Darjeeling as their final stop, reached Kolkata on April 29 to board a train back to Chennai. They stayed overnight in the hotel before their scheduled departure — but tragedy struck before they could leave. In the fire, T Prabhu lost his two children, P Diya (10) and P Rithan (3 years and 8 months old), and his father-in-law, L S Muthukrishnan (61). The couple returned to Karur in Tamil Nadu with the bodies of the three deceased family members. Story continues below this ad T Prabhu has now alleged that ...

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6May By source belowNo Comments

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From Dudh shukto to Hemkonikar payesh: Tagore’s Thakurbari’s recipes brought alive again in 3-day festival

Long before restaurant menus and fusion trends, Bengal’s culinary identity was crafted in homes like that of Rabindranath Tagore. Dishes such as uchchhe bori diye dudh shukto, bhaja muger dal pora, hemkonikar payesh, and kochi pathar jhol once graced the poet’s table and reflected a kitchen steeped in refinement and tradition. Story continues below this ad Now, in an effort to revive these lost flavours, the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDCL) is bringing back this rich gastronomic legacy through a three-day food festival titled “Banglar Shabekiyana Thakurbarir Ranna (Bengal traditional cuisine of Tagore’s family)” to be held from May 9 to 11. This festival, curated as a tribute to Bengal’s timeless food heritage, will present four elaborate thalis each da...

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5May By source belowNo Comments

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Two persons dead after four of them travel on same motorcycle without helmets, hit wall

Early on Monday morning, two persons died in an accident at the Ultadanga flyover, while two more were admitted to hospital in a critical condition, after the motorcycle they were all on hit a wall. Police said the four persons were also travelling without wearing helmets. They were travelling from Kolkata to the Lake Town area when the driver lost control. Police arrived and took the four to hospital, while two of them succumbed on the way. Police said that the accident, which occurred around 5 am, was likely caused by the high speed of the motorcycle, based on a preliminary investigation. A senior police officer said, “That time, the flyover’s traffic was almost nil. We repeatedly alert drivers not to speed up early in the morning because during this time, uncontrolled speed causes accid...

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4May By source belowNo Comments

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Kolkata police send list of 83 rooftop restaurants to municipal corporation for crackdown

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has initiated a stringent crackdown on rooftop restaurants across the city, citing safety concerns and violations of regulations. Following a recent policy decision, the civic body has begun serving notices to numerous establishments, including popular ones, directing them to dismantle any unauthorised constructions or face legal repercussions.On Saturday, Kolkata Police compiled a list of 83 rooftop restaurants within the KMC area. This list was then shared with the KMC to aid in their crackdown on these establishments due to safety concerns and violations of building regulations. The list includes several well-known restaurants such as Blue & Beyond, Hoppipola, Whatsup Cafe, The Sky Story, Roots, Oris, The Golden Park, Drunken Teddy, Scrap Yard...

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4May By source belowNo Comments

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BSF seizes 12 gold biscuits worth Rs 1.56 crore along India-Bangladesh border

Written by Sharadiya Mitra In a major crackdown on smuggling, the Border Security Force (BSF) South Bengal Frontier recovered gold and silver worth over Rs 1.64 crore in two separate operations conducted Saturday along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. In the first operation, acting on a credible tip-off, BSF personnel from the 32 Battalion’s Banpur outpost in Nadia district set up an ambush near the border fencing. Around 11 am, they noticed suspicious activity—three people on the Indian side were seen approaching the fencing as a person from Bangladesh threw packets across the border. As the trio moved in to collect them, BSF troops moved to intercept. Story continues below this ad The BSF said the suspects escaped into the crowded Phulbari (Banpur) village in ...

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1May By source belowNo Comments

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‘Even if a people’s representative was involved, they will not be spared’: Mamata on Kolkata hotel fire

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday visited the fire-ravaged hotel at Kolkata’s Burrabazar and promised: “Nobody will be spared, whoever is involved in this fire, even if any people’s representative is involved.” On April 29, a massive fire broke out at the first floor of the Rituraj Hotel in the Burrabazar area, which claimed 14 lives. According to police sources, a suo moto case had been filed by the Jorasanko Police station and another case had been filed by the Fire department. At the time of the incident, Banerjee was in Digha for the inauguration of a Jagannath Temple. Fire Minister Sujit Bose also was in Digha. Opposition parties criticised Banerjee and Bose for staying in Digha even after the incident happened in Kolkata. Story continues below this ad ...

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1May By source belowNo Comments

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Kolkata Hotel Fire: Owner, manager held for culpable homicide after 14 killed

The owner of Rituraj Hotel, Akash Chawla, and its Manager Gaurav Kapoor were arrested by the Kolkata Police early on Thursday morning. According to police sources, both the accused will be produced in the Bankshall court and the police will pray for their custody as they would like to question them. On April 29, a massive fire broke out at the first floor of the Rituraj Hotel in the Barabazar area, which claimed 14 lives. Story continues below this ad According to police sources, a suo moto case had been filed by the Jorasanko Police station and another case had been filed by the Fire department. The case has been filed under section 105 (mandates that search and seizure proceedings, including the preparation of the seized property list and its signing by witnesses, be r...

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1May By source belowNo Comments

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Kolkata Hotel Fire: ‘We stood on hotel parapet for an hour, but it seemed endless’

For Akash Agarwal and his wife, it was a narrow escape. The Agarwal family, comprising Akash and his wife and their two children and a nephew, was visiting from Odisha, and waiting to check out of Rituraj Hotel in Burrabazar area of Kolkata on Tuesday evening when fire broke out. “My children and nephew were waiting downstairs with luggage, while my wife and I went upstairs to bring the remaining luggage downstairs, when suddenly the fire broke out. My wife and I got stuck in the room, and the smoke started to fill the room. We had no other way than to get out through the window. Luckily, the window had no iron grill. So, we broke the window and stepped out on the parapet. We were standing on the parapet for close to an hour, but it seemed an endless wait for the fire officials to come,” s...

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1May By source belowNo Comments

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Kolkata Hotel Fire: SIT to probe; PM Modi announces ex gratia

The West Bengal government ordered a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kolkata Police into the fire. “An SIT has been formed to probe the cause of the fire and to check the safety measures that were in place. The investigation will also look into the difficulties faced by the guests while evacuating from the building,” Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma told reporters on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: “My heart goes out to the victims of the fire incident. I monitored the rescue and fire fight operations throughout the night. Investigation has been...

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30Apr By source belowNo Comments

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At least 14 dead in Kolkata hotel fire, SIT formed to probe cause

Kolkata Hotel Fire Today: A fire that tore through a six-story hotel in one of Kolkata’s oldest and most congested neighbourhoods killed at least 15 people on Tuesday night, according to local authorities. Most of the victims died from suffocation, while one person died after falling from the building as he attempted to escape the blaze. “14 casualties have been reported so far. An SIT has been formed to probe the cause of the fire and to check the safety measures that were in place. The investigation will also look into the difficulties faced by the guests while evacuating from the building,” Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma told reporters. The fire broke out around 7:30 pm at the Rituraj Hotel, located on Madanmohan Street in the city’s Burrabazar area. Ten fire engines were...

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