Opposition attacks Mamata Banerjee over Kolkata hotel fire, ‘administration on vacation to Digha'
After a fire at a hotel in Kolkata's Burrabazar claimed at least 14 lives on Tuesday night, opposition parties in West Bengal attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state Fire Minister Sujit Bose, who were reportedly at the inauguration of the Jagannath Mandir in Digha.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said on X, 'Lack of proper fire safety measures and other negligence must have led to the horrific incident, which must be probed thoroughly. However, what is most concerning is that the tragedy struck at the heart of Kolkata, yet the response wasn't adequate and prompt considering the location. Why? Is this because the whole administration and WB Govt is on a 3-day vacation in Digha and the people of WB are left to fend for themselves?'
Adhikari then thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing compensation for the victims' families. '… The ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the bereaved families and Rs 50,000 for the injured from PMNRF reflects your deep care. Your support offers solace during this immense grief,' he posted.
'The unfortunate people who lost their lives in the Mechua fire tragedy seem to be outsiders who were visiting Kolkata. Surprisingly, the West Bengal Government hasn't thought that it would be appropriate to activate a specific helpline number and a control room for the aid and assistance of the visitors and their families,' he added.
Adhikari claimed BJP leaders and councillors are on the ground helping the victims of the tragic fire incident. He posted, 'The @BJP4Bengal Councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation — Smt. Meena Devi Purohit, Shri Sajal Ghosh and Shri Vijay Ojha — are on the ground, trying to assist those who are injured and those who managed to get out in time. I would like to urge (the Chief Secretary) to immediately activate a helpline so that the family members of the victims who hail from outside West Bengal can receive credible information. As of now, anyone can call 9836956222 for any assistance, it's a stopgap helpline from our side.'
Meanwhile, CPIM Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty said, 'Unfortunate incident. Proper investigation should be done to determine how this fire incident happened. But the most unfortunate part is that after this incident, the Chief Minister and Fire Minister remained busy in Digha for the inauguration of the Jagannath temple.'
Echoing similar concerns, West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar criticised the civic authorities over the lack of safety measures. 'This is a tragic incident. A fire broke out… A lot of people are still stuck in the building. There was no safety or security… I don't know what the corporation is doing,' Sarkar said.
However, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh claimed, 'This is a tragic and unfortunate incident. The Chief Minister monitored the whole night. Ministers Aroop Biswas and Sujit Bose are all active. Firhad Hakim and Sashi Panja rushed to the spot. Police and fire brigade rescued many.'
BJP state president Sukanta Majumder said on X, 'After the devastating fire at the Burrabazar area in Kolkata claimed 14 lives (including children), who died in horrific agony, the ruling party and the Chief Minister herself are desperately trying to cover up their overall failure! It is being promoted that the Chief Minister of the state supposedly stayed awake all night in Digha to supervise everything! Following such a horrific fire, the Honorable Prime Minister of the country promptly announced financial aid from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. But the real tragedy for the people of the state is that the failed Chief Minister—despite being so-called humane—could not even make it to Kolkata. Even the failed Fire Minister remained seated by the sea in Digha!'
He then added, 'Kolkata has a long, grim history of deadly fires. After countless lives have been lost and everything destroyed, every time the failed West Bengal government under (Banerjee) has shed crocodile tears! With much drama, the city's fire safety systems are said to be reviewed after each incident — but what has that ever led to? Due to such an incompetent administration, the entire city has virtually turned into a tinderbox.'
The fire tore through a six-storey hotel in one of Kolkata's oldest and most congested neighbourhoods 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. An SIT has been formed to probe the incident.
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