Stephen Court death count soars to 16
By IANSTuesday, March 23, 2010
KOLKATA - The death count shot up to 16 in the devastating fire that swept through two floors of the sprawling Stephen Court Building in Kolkata’s glamorous address Park Street Tuesday.
While four bodies were found late Tuesday night, six other charred bodies were discovered early Wednesday from the sixth floor of the highrise, an officer in the state police control room said.
With the fire under control in all four blocks of the heritage building, police and fire brigade personnel were conducting intense searches in rooms on the upper floors, stair cases and terraces.
“Four completely charred bodies were recovered from the sixth floor of the building a little before midnight. Six other bodies were found early Wednesday,” the police said.
“Around 20 are injured. Eight of them are admitted to hospital. The fire is under control,” Joint Commissioner of police (headquarters) Javed Shamim told IANS in the evening.
The fire swept through a large part of the top two floors of the Stephen Court building, which houses mainly call centres, other small offices and residences.
The Stephen Court houses the popular Peter Cat restaurant and is close to the iconic Flurys tea room, police said.
