The blaze is now under control, but authorities say they are still carrying out rescue operations. It's not yet clear how the fire started. Police have set up a special investigation team to look into the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was "anguished by the loss of lives" and announced financial compensation to the families of the victims.

Deadly fires are often reported in buildings in Indian cities, with poor planning and lax enforcement of safety regulations playing a role. A year ago, at least 27 people died in a massive fire at a games arcade in the western state of Gujarat. Months later, 10 newborns were killed in Uttar Pradesh state after a blaze broke out in the neonatal unit of a hospital in Jhansi district. In Kolkata, reports say guests at the hotel fled to the building rooftop and used flashlights from their phone to signal for help. Videos show people climbing onto ledges outside their room windows to escape the fire. (BBC)