The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has issued temporary closure notices to 919 hotels and guest houses for violating fire safety norms. Of the 960 establishments inspected, only 41 met the final safety criteria. Commissioner Smita Pandey said that safety is non‑negotiable and that establishments must have fire entry exits.
The crackdown followed the fire at Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street, which killed at least nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals. The incident raised concerns across the city, especially in areas with many small hotels.
Many hotels have had doors locked and shutters closed. Tourists, primarily from Bangladesh seeking medical tourism in the Park Street and Esplanade areas, complain that closures have driven up prices for the remaining accommodations. Owner Mantosh Kumar Saha explained that many buildings are 100‑150 years old, the owners lack original plans, and the fire department requests them for safety recommendations.
Despite the owners’ willingness to comply, the absence of building plans has left them in limbo. In addition to hotel inspections, the state government has begun simultaneous audits of shopping malls and complexes. Major malls such as South City, Mani Square, Star, Hiland Park, and Acropolis were inspected on September 9, 2026.
