The building that houses the ill-fated hotel
Kolkata: Separate inquiries by both police and fire department have now officially established the suspicion of the state administration that hotel Shikha Inn on Free School Street, where a fire broke out on Aug 19, had been operating illegally without a valid fire safety certificate. The owner had converted a 2-BHK residential flat into a five room hotel, said cops. Investigators revealed that the management operated the residential hotel across five rooms on the second floor — along with an extension on the fourth floor — while ignoring mandatory safety protocols.
Sources said raids at Mitra’s second hotel, Jaapon, opposite Shikha Inn, have not led to recovery of any fire licences. The hotel was lacking even basic fire-fighting infrastructure and emergency exits. He had also leased it out to a third person, Abu Jafar, though he claimed that the fire licence was originally issued in his name. After verification, it was found that his claim was fake. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata
No active fire suppression systems, detection alarms, or firefighting equipment were functional at the time of the incident, according to the investigation. Investigators claimed that the hotel owner, identified as Bireswar Mitra, who has since been arrested along with the management, operated the property with full knowledge that such severe omissions were likely to cause loss of life.Authorities have attached the Fire & Emergency Services complaint to the primary case file. Further investigation into the hotel’s operational clearances is underway.