Kolkata authorities inspected hotels and restaurants in the New Market area following a fire incident. A joint team of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, fire department, and police found major security lapses during the checks.
Twenty-five hotels and restaurants received showcause notices for lacking proper fire safety systems and required documents. The fire department had previously issued notices to 13 hotels on Thursday and 17 hotels on Friday.
Several owners failed to submit valid documents and fire safety certificates within the given time.
Authorities shut down three more hotels during the Saturday inspection. This brings the total number of closed hotels in the Dharmatala area to 16.
Many buildings in the crowded New Market area are originally residential and lacked permission to run hotel businesses. These places also lacked basic water facilities and fire safety measures. Ministers and officials questioned how such businesses operated for years without proper checks.
