At least 9 killed in hotel fire in India's Kolkata

At least nine people have been killed, including a child, in a fire at a hotel in India's eastern city of Kolkata on Wednesday, local police said.

The fire broke out at around 2:50 am local time on the second floor of the hotel building and was brought under control within an hour, a senior police officer told Reuters.

Around 30 people were evacuated safely in the incident, which may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, the officer said. The exact cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained, he added.

Local media reported injuries, with at least six wounded undergoing hospital treatment.

News agency ANI, citing the fire department, said that among the dead were Bangladeshi citizens who were in Kolkata to seek medical treatment. Meanwhile, NDTV reported all nine dead were Bangladeshis.

The senior police official Reuters spoke to, however, said the nationalities of those killed were yet to be determined.

The hotel is located in a congested area in central Kolkata and is known for budget accommodations and restaurants.