9 killed in blaze at multi-storeyed building in Kolkata

At least nine people including four fire fighters, one Railway Protection Force personnel, an assistant sub-inspector of the Kolkata Police and one unidentified person died while fighting a massive blaze the fire at a high rise building that houses the offices of the Eastern Railway at Kolkata's Strand Road, fire service minister Sujit Bose said late Monday night. Among the dead are four firemen, a police officer, a Railways officer and a security person, officials said. Railway officials who work in the building said one of their colleagues, Sudipta Das, a technician and resident of Howrah, was missing.

The fire started on the 13th floor of the New Koilaghat  Building, an office building shared by the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway, next to the Hooghly River on Strand road.The building houses railway ticketing offices, and as per reports, online bookings have been hit with the power being switched off. CM Mamta Banerjee has announced   the state government will stand by these familes. Each family will be given a job and Rs10 lakh.

The Centre on Tuesday approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic fire in Kolkata, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.