An elderly couple died after a fire broke out in their bedroom at a two-storey house in Nimta’s Kalachand More area in North Kolkata early Thursday. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 40 minutes, but the couple were found severely burned inside the room and were later declared dead at Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital.
The deceased were identified as 96-year-old Noni Gopal Das and 87-year-old Tripti Das. According to the report, the couple were the only residents of the house. Their children live with their families in other states, while relatives and local residents reached the property after smoke was seen coming from the second floor.
Firefighters and local residents entered the room after the flames had been extinguished. The bed, air-conditioning unit and other furniture inside had been destroyed. Police and fire service personnel recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination.
The fire service’s preliminary assessment pointed to a possible short circuit. Officials were also examining whether the air-conditioning unit could have been involved. No final cause had been established at the time of the report, and investigators were checking whether the deaths resulted from an accidental fire or another cause.
The condition of the couple may have affected their ability to escape. Relatives said Tripti Das had severe difficulty walking because of knee problems. Police officials, based on the positions in which the bodies were found, said Noni Gopal Das may have been trying to reach the door when he collapsed. These details remain part of the ongoing investigation and have not been presented as a final explanation of the incident.
A relative told the report that flames were visible through the window of the room where the couple slept, but attempts to enter were unsuccessful while the fire was active. Once the fire was brought under control, firefighters and local people were able to enter the room.
The incident has drawn attention in the neighbourhood because the couple lived alone and were both elderly. Family members returned to the house after receiving news of the fire. The report also said their married daughter had died in 2021 and that Noni Gopal Das was a retired Central government employee.
Police have begun an investigation alongside the fire service. The post-mortem examinations and the examination of the damaged electrical equipment and room are expected to form part of the process to establish the cause of the fire. Further findings from the investigation have not yet been reported.
