Kolkata, April 29:
A huge fire at a hotel in Kolkata's heart area on Monday evening has thrown up political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for an "insensitive" reaction to the disaster.
The fire erupted in a hotel off Park Street, killing a minimum of 9 individuals and injuring a number of others. Firefighters fought the fire for hours as heavy smoke filled the building. Preliminary reports indicate the fire could have been caused by a short circuit. Witnesses complained there were insufficient emergency exits, and the fire alarms did not activate in time.
BJP leaders criticized sharply Mamata Banerjee for not visiting the spot immediately or making a public statement in the initial hours of the tragedy. "People are dying, and the Chief Minister is occupied with political activities. This is not negligence, it's heartlessness," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told. BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari also called for a judicial inquiry and compensation to the families of the victims.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) came to the defense of Banerjee, saying she had been in contact with officials and keeping abreast of the situation. "She has conveyed deep regret and has instructed authorities to take appropriate action," said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.
The state government meanwhile declared ₹5 lakh compensation to the families of the victims and assured an inquiry into fire safety lapses.
While rescue operations are still ongoing and the city is mourning the loss, most citizens have expressed concerns over lax enforcement of safety standards in business premises. While political point-scoring gathers momentum, citizens' ire is directed at non-preparedness and lack of accountability in avoiding such preventable tragedies.
