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Calcutta fire death toll hits 42 | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The death toll in a huge fire in the Indian city of Calcutta last week has risen to 42 with the recovery of more bodies, police have said. | |
Dozens were also hurt when the historic Stephen Court building caught fire. It is feared more people are missing. | Dozens were also hurt when the historic Stephen Court building caught fire. It is feared more people are missing. |
Two people, who were caretakers of the building, have been arrested in connection with last Tuesday's fire. | |
The fire was among the deadliest in Calcutta in recent years. It reportedly broke out in a lift shaft and spread. | The fire was among the deadliest in Calcutta in recent years. It reportedly broke out in a lift shaft and spread. |
More bodies have been recovered over the weekend from the smouldering debris of the building - five of them were pulled out by rescue workers on Monday afternoon. | |
'Fairly common' | |
The BBC's Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta says many are still waiting for their relatives who were working in the building and have been missing since the day of the fire. | |
"I will wait here for my daughter till I find her, dead or alive," said Iqbal Hassan. | |
Calcutta police chief Mohan Chakrabarti has accused the owner of the 100-year-old Stephen Court building of not observing fire regulations. | Calcutta police chief Mohan Chakrabarti has accused the owner of the 100-year-old Stephen Court building of not observing fire regulations. |
But local residents accused the fire services of taking nearly an hour to arrive at the scene. | But local residents accused the fire services of taking nearly an hour to arrive at the scene. |
Fifteen of the bodies are yet to be identified. | Fifteen of the bodies are yet to be identified. |
Nearly 100 fire-fighters and 25 fire engines spent several hours struggling to control the blaze. | Nearly 100 fire-fighters and 25 fire engines spent several hours struggling to control the blaze. |
Fires in high-rise buildings are fairly common in the city. There have been at least 10 major incidents since 2008. | Fires in high-rise buildings are fairly common in the city. There have been at least 10 major incidents since 2008. |
Electrical short circuits have been responsible for most of these fires. | Electrical short circuits have been responsible for most of these fires. |