9 including 4 firefighters, 2 railway personnel & a ASI killed at Eastern Railways Strand road office fire in Kolkata

Kolkata: At least nine people were killed in a major fire on the 13th floor of the Eastern Railways office at Strand Road in the central part of the city.

The incident occurred on Monday evening at around 1810 hrs and the deceased include four firefighters, two Railway personnel and a police ASI who have been fighting the fire.

The 13th floor houses the accounts office, said ER employees who evacuated the building.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the spot at 2215 hrs and announced Rs 10 lakh each and a government job to the kin of family.

The Chief Minister elaborated that the deaths happened when the victims were using lift which got electrocuted and caught fire.

Kolkata fire tragedy: PM approves Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for kin of deceased

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday mourned the loss of lives in the Kolkata fire tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin.

An amount of Rs Rs 50,000 has also been approved by the PMO to those who have been seriously injured in the incident.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Saddened by the loss of lives due to the fire tragedy in Kolkata. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest."

Prez Kovind mourns loss of lives in Kolkata fire tragedy

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the fire in Kolkata last evening.

In a tweet, the President said "Pained beyond words by the extremely tragic fire accident at a building in Kolkata. My deep sympathy and condolences for the bereaved families. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured."

At least nine people were killed in a major fire at the 13th floor of the Eastern Railways office at Strand road in the central part of the city on Monday evening.

Railway minister Piyush Goyal has set up a high level inquiry consisting of four Principal heads of Railway departments to ascertain the cause of the fire.(UNI)