Kolkata building fire: Leaseholder of Shikha Inn arrested, 9 dead
Synopsis
A deadly hotel fire on Kolkata's Mirza Ghalib Street has claimed nine lives — and the SIT's first arrest points to a leaseholder, not the absconding original owner. With show-cause notices now flying at 13 more establishments on the same street, the case is fast becoming a reckoning for Central Kolkata's budget hospitality corridor and its years of alleged safety violations.
Key Takeaways
Abu Zafar , leaseholder of Hotel Shikha Inn , was arrested from Jorasanko, North Kolkata on 20 August in connection with the Mirza Ghalib Street building fire.
The fire, which broke out late Tuesday night , killed nine people ; Shikha Inn on the third floor (1,100 sq ft) is the identified source.
Original owner Bireshwar Mitra remains absconding; two hotel staff members have been detained for questioning.
The State Fire Services Department has issued show-cause notices to nine hotels and four restaurants on Mirza Ghalib Street for safety non-compliance, with a 24-hour response deadline.
The West Bengal government has ordered a special audit of all hotels, lodges, and guesthouses in the area.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kolkata Police probing the deadly fire at a multi-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street in Central Kolkata has made its first arrest, detaining the leaseholder of Hotel Shikha Inn — the establishment from which the blaze originated — on Thursday, 20 August. The fire, which broke out late Tuesday night, claimed nine lives.
The Arrest and Detentions
The arrested individual has been identified as Abu Zafar, who had taken Hotel Shikha Inn on lease from the building's original owner, Bireshwar Mitra. Zafar was apprehended from his residence in Jorasanko, North Kolkata, on Thursday morning and is to be produced before a city court later in the day, with the public prosecutor set to seek his police custody.
The SIT has also detained two other individuals, reportedly staff members of the hotel, for questioning. Their identities have not yet been disclosed by the city police. Notably, Mitra, the original owner of the hotel, remains absconding.
The Fire and the Building
The five-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street housed multiple hotels and guesthouses, each occupying a separate floor. Hotel Shikha Inn, located on the third floor, covered an area of 1,100 square feet. The fire broke out late Tuesday night, and according to officials, there had been numerous prior allegations of irregularities at the hotel.
Nine people lost their lives in the blaze. The New Market Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the building falls, has registered a suo motu case, and the State Fire Services Department has also lodged a separate complaint.
Safety Crackdown on Mirza Ghalib Street
In the wake of the tragedy, the State Fire Services Department has issued show-cause notices to nine other hotels and four restaurants on Mirza Ghalib Street for non-compliance with fire safety regulations. All have been directed to respond within 24 hours.
This comes amid longstanding concerns about safety standards in the area's hospitality establishments. The incident has exposed the risk posed by densely packed commercial guesthouses operating in buildings with inadequate fire exits and safety infrastructure.
Government Response and Audit
The West Bengal government has announced a detailed special audit of all hotels, lodges, and guesthouses in the Mirza Ghalib Street area following the fire. The audit is expected to assess compliance with fire safety norms across the strip, which is a well-known budget hospitality corridor in Central Kolkata.
With the building's original owner still at large and the investigation ongoing, authorities are likely to widen the probe to examine whether safety lapses extended beyond Shikha Inn to other establishments in the same structure. The next court hearing for Zafar will be a key procedural milestone in the case.
Point of View
While those with deeper structural accountability remain out of reach. The fact that prior irregularities at Shikha Inn were allegedly known — and that 13 other establishments on the same street have now received safety notices — raises an uncomfortable question about regulatory failure that predates the fire. A 24-hour show-cause window is procedurally correct but insufficient as a systemic response. West Bengal's audit will matter only if it results in enforceable closures, not paperwork.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been arrested in the Kolkata Mirza Ghalib Street fire case?
Abu Zafar , the leaseholder of Hotel Shikha Inn , has been arrested by the SIT of Kolkata Police. He was picked up from his residence in Jorasanko, North Kolkata, on 20 August and is to be produced before a city court.
How many people died in the Kolkata hotel fire on Mirza Ghalib Street?
Nine people lost their lives in the fire, which broke out late Tuesday night at the five-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street in Central Kolkata. The blaze originated from Hotel Shikha Inn on the third floor.
Who is the original owner of Hotel Shikha Inn and where is he?
The original owner is Bireshwar Mitra , who had leased the hotel to Abu Zafar. Mitra is currently absconding, and the SIT is working to locate him.
What action has been taken against other hotels on Mirza Ghalib Street?
The State Fire Services Department has issued show-cause notices to nine hotels and four restaurants on Mirza Ghalib Street for non-compliance with fire safety regulations, with a response deadline of 24 hours . The West Bengal government has also ordered a special audit of all hospitality establishments in the area.
What is the current status of the investigation?
The SIT of Kolkata Police is leading the probe. One arrest has been made, two persons are in detention for questioning, and a suo motu case has been registered by the New Market Police Station . The State Fire Services Department has also filed a separate complaint.
