Fire and smoke

• A hotel fire in central Kolkata resulted in 13 deaths and 13 injuries, with many victims asphyxiated due to smoke’s rapid rise.

• The six-storey hotel had only one stairway, limiting escape options.

• A similar incident occurred in Rajasthan’s historic town of Ajmer, where a five-storey hotel also resulted in four deaths.

• These fires, which have become a routine occurrence in India, are characterized by outdated safety features and use of flammable materials.

• Immediate solutions include maintaining low-height sidewalks, retrofitting fire retardant materials, and considering the use of retractable metallic staircases for emergency escapes.

• Firefighting teams should be equipped with more breathing apparatuses to better rescue people in distress in such structures.