NEW DELHI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and six others suffered burn injuries in a devastating fire inside a hotel in India's eastern state of West Bengal on Thursday, police said.
The fire broke out at the Golden Park Hotel in Ho Chi Minh Sarani, close to the British High Commission and the U.S. Consulate of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal.
"Early today, a fire broke out in Golden Park Hotel, during which two hotel guests were killed," a police official said.
"Though they were rushed to the nearest medical facility but doctors declared them brought dead."
According to police, over two dozen people including the hotel's staff have been rescued.
"Of the rescued people, six had minor burn injuries and they were removed to hospital," the official said.
Following the blaze, firefighters and fire tenders rushed to the scene to douse flames.
Officials said the firefighters holding water canons were struggling hard for three hours amid thick smoke bellowing from the hotel to control fire from spreading.
Witnesses said fire started in a kitchen of the hotel and spread to other areas including the ground floor.
Police said the cause of the fire was being ascertained.
Fire service officials say chances of fire in India increase as buildings usually do not follow the safety standards vis-a-vis fire.
