Siliguri, 19th August: Recent hotel fire incidents in Tarapith and Kolkata have brought fire safety arrangements in hotels under scrutiny, with similar concerns now emerging in Siliguri. Several hotels allegedly operating behind roadside food stalls near Siliguri Junction are facing allegations of illegal operations and lack of basic fire safety measures.
According to allegations, several hotels have been set up behind roadside food stalls, with each reportedly having around five to ten rooms. The hotels are allegedly constructed illegally on railway land, raising questions over how such establishments came up and continued to operate.
Another major concern is the alleged lack of basic fire safety arrangements in most of these hotels. Questions are being raised over how an emergency would be handled if a fire breaks out at any of these establishments.
Statements from hotel owners and workers are expected to shed further light on the allegations and the safety arrangements at the establishments.
Ujjwal Ghosh, Joint Secretary of the Siliguri Hoteliers’ Association, said the association has been describing such establishments as illegal hotels for a long time. He alleged that some sections of the administration were allowing these hotels to operate and urged the government to take responsibility and initiate strict action against them.
The allegations have once again raised questions over regulatory compliance, fire safety and the use of railway land for commercial establishments in the Siliguri Junction area.