A tragic hotel fire in central Kolkata has once again highlighted a serious issue for tourists: how safe is the hotel they choose?
Mirza Ghalib Street, formerly known as Free School Street, is one of central Kolkata’s busiest areas. Located between Park Street and Dharmatala, the neighborhood attracts tourists, business travelers, and local residents year-round. The area is filled with restaurants, guesthouses, and hotels, many of which operate in old buildings that stand very close to one another.
A recent fire at an old building in the area reportedly killed nine people, including seven Bangladeshi tourists and two hotel employees. The incident has raised concerns about fire safety in older, crowded buildings and has left travelers asking an important question: What should you check before staying in a hotel?
The answer is not simply the room rate, location, or appearance. Emergency exits, fire alarms, stairways, electrical wiring, and other basic safety features can make a huge difference during an emergency.
Why Old, Crowded Hotels Can Be More Dangerous
Many older buildings in central Kolkata were constructed decades ago, when modern fire-safety standards were less comprehensive than they are today.
Some buildings have limited open space between them, narrow corridors, and only one main entrance. In certain properties, several small rooms have been created on different floors and converted into hotel or guesthouse accommodation.
This can become especially dangerous during a fire. Flames are an obvious threat, but smoke can be equally deadly. At night, sleeping guests may not immediately notice a fire. Within minutes, smoke can fill corridors and staircases, making escape extremely difficult.
Check the Emergency Exit Before Unpacking
One of the simplest things tourists can do is inspect the escape route immediately after entering their room.
Find the main staircase and work out how to reach it from the room. Check whether the building has another staircase or an alternative emergency exit.
This may take only a few minutes, but knowing the escape route in advance can save valuable time. If an alarm sounds at night or smoke enters the room, guests should not have to waste precious seconds figuring out where to go.
A hotel that offers comfortable rooms but has poor emergency access should not automatically be considered a safe choice.
Be Careful With Windows Covered by Iron Grilles
Iron window grilles are common in many older buildings. While they may provide security, they can create a serious problem during a fire.
Imagine that smoke or flames block the main staircase. A window could potentially provide another escape option in some circumstances. But a permanently fixed grille may remove that possibility completely.
Before settling into a room, guests should check the windows to see whether they can be opened and whether the grille poses an additional escape problem.
Make Sure Smoke Alarms Are Present
The first few minutes after a fire starts can be critical.
A functioning smoke alarm can alert sleeping guests before they realize something is wrong. Tourists should therefore look for smoke detectors in the room and common areas.
However, simply seeing a detector on the ceiling does not guarantee that it works. Hotel management should regularly test and maintain fire alarms and other safety equipment.
If you are unsure, asking hotel staff about their fire alarm system is perfectly reasonable.
Find the Nearest Fire Extinguisher
Fire extinguishers should be available at appropriate locations throughout a hotel.
Guests do not necessarily need to learn how to operate every extinguisher, but they should know where the nearest one is located. More importantly, hotel employees should be properly trained to respond to a fire emergency.
Guests should never put themselves in danger trying to fight a large fire. Once a fire becomes serious, getting away from the danger and reaching a safe location should be the priority.
A Single Narrow Staircase Is a Warning Sign
Pay close attention to the condition of the staircase.
Is it wide enough for people to move through quickly? Are boxes, furniture, or other objects blocking the way? Are doors locked or difficult to open? Are electrical wires running dangerously close to the escape route?
If an entire hotel depends on a single narrow staircase and it is obstructed, guests should take the situation seriously.
A fire can render a normally usable staircase impassable within minutes due to flames or heavy smoke.
Watch Out for Unsafe Electrical Wiring
Electrical problems can become a major fire risk, particularly in older buildings.
Tourists should pay attention to obvious warning signs such as loose wires, overloaded power strips, damaged sockets, burning smells, or electrical equipment that becomes unusually hot.
Hotels use many high-power appliances, including air conditioners, water heaters, refrigerators, and other electrical equipment. Poor maintenance or overloaded circuits can increase the risk of electrical fires.
Hotels With Kitchens or LPG Need Extra Attention
If a hotel has a restaurant, kitchen, or LPG cooking system, guests should also consider the location and condition of those facilities.
Important questions include whether gas cylinders are stored safely, whether the kitchen has adequate ventilation, and how close the cooking area is to guest rooms.
Hotels are responsible for meeting applicable fire-safety requirements and maintaining the necessary approvals and safety systems.
Why Fire-Safety Approval Matters
Fire-safety approval is an important part of hotel safety, but it should not be treated as an absolute guarantee.
A building may have received approval at one point but become less safe if alarms, pumps, hydrants, or extinguishers are not properly maintained afterward.
Recent concerns regarding hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in central Kolkata have also highlighted the importance of regular inspections and compliance with fire safety requirements.
In other words, safety is not something a hotel can establish once and forget. Equipment needs to remain functional, escape routes need to stay clear, and staff need regular training.
What Fire-Safety Features Should a Hotel Have?
A safer hotel should have several basic fire-protection measures.
These can include suitable emergency exits, fire-resistant construction in relevant areas, accessible routes for emergency services, adequate water storage, and hydrant systems.
Fire alarms, smoke detectors, emergency power arrangements, and fire extinguishers are also important. Hotel employees and security staff should receive training in emergency procedures, while regular drills and equipment checks can help identify problems before an actual emergency occurs.
What Should You Do When Staying at a Hotel at Night?
Nighttime deserves special attention because most guests are likely to be asleep.
Before going to bed, identify the route from your room to the nearest staircase. If there is a second emergency route, learn where it is.
Keep your phone charged and make sure you can quickly contact hotel staff or emergency services if necessary.
If you smell smoke or hear an alarm, do not wait unnecessarily. Assess the safest available escape route and move away from the danger.
Never Use the Lift During a Fire
Using a lift during a fire can be extremely dangerous.
A power failure can leave passengers trapped inside. Smoke can also enter lift shafts and spread through parts of a building.
For this reason, guests should normally use a safe staircase rather than a lift when evacuating during a fire.
What to Do If You See Heavy Smoke
Smoke can spread rapidly during a fire and make breathing difficult.
If you need to move through a smoke-filled area, staying as low as possible can help reduce exposure to the thickest smoke. Covering your nose and mouth with a cloth may also provide some protection, although the priority should always be finding a safe way out.
Do not automatically open a door if there is heavy smoke or obvious heat on the other side. Check the situation and look for a safer alternative if one is available.
Why Bangladeshi Tourists Should Be Especially Careful
Kolkata remains a popular destination for Bangladeshi travelers visiting for medical treatment, shopping, business, and tourism.
Hotels in central Kolkata can be attractive because they are often close to major transport links, shopping areas, and important destinations. Lower-priced accommodation can also be appealing to travelers trying to control their budgets.
But price and location should not be the only factors when choosing a hotel.
Before booking, tourists should check online reviews and photographs and, where possible, ask about fire-safety arrangements. After arriving, they should personally locate the emergency staircase, fire extinguishers, and exits.
Extra care is particularly important for families traveling with children, elderly relatives, or people with mobility difficulties.
Hotel Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Ensuring that old buildings meet fire-safety requirements is primarily the responsibility of authorities, property owners, and hotel operators. Regular inspections, valid approvals, working fire equipment, and trained staff are essential.
But travelers also have a role to play.
A beautiful room, low price, or excellent location does not necessarily mean a hotel is safe. A small, comfortable room can become extremely dangerous if guests have no practical way to escape during a fire.
The recent Kolkata tragedy is a reminder that fire safety should never be treated as an afterthought. A few minutes spent checking emergency exits, stairways, alarms, and other safety features could prove extremely valuable during an unexpected emergency.
Old buildings cannot be transformed overnight. But regular inspections, proper maintenance, effective fire-safety systems, and greater awareness among tourists can help reduce the risk of another devastating incident.
