7 Pilgrims Killed In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal's Birbhum

At least eight individuals lost their lives and several others suffered critical injuries in a devastating fire at Hotel Bideshinii in Tarapith, Birbhum district, West Bengal, early Monday morning. The inferno erupted around 4:30 am on the ground floor of the G+4 building, situated near a pond and close to Tarapith police station. Most guests were asleep when the blaze ignited.

The victims succumbed to asphyxiation caused by toxic smoke emanating from the burning false ceiling, fiberglass, and other inflammable materials present on the ground floor, which swiftly spread to the upper floors. Those who awoke found themselves disoriented and struggled to locate an escape route.

Firefighters arrived promptly at the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control. The injured were rescued and transported to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Hotel officials suggested that an electrical short circuit might have sparked the fire, although the precise cause remains unconfirmed.

Munmun Mondal, one of the fortunate guests to escape, recounted, "Suddenly, the entire hotel was engulfed in smoke. We couldn't breathe and couldn't find an escape route immediately. The fire exposed the dearth of basic fire safety infrastructure at the hotel." According to officials, the establishment lacked sufficient fire detection and prevention equipment.

Tarapith experienced heightened crowding on Monday, as it marked the last Monday of Shravan, a time when numerous devotees flock to the temple town. Devotees pay homage to Maa Tara at the Tarapith temple, while Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Chandrachur. Priya Roy, a local BJP worker who volunteered to assist with rescue efforts, noted, "It was raining early in the morning, and the guests were sound asleep.

We too initially couldn't comprehend what had occurred inside the hotel. Authorities are currently evaluating the extent of the damage and investigating the cause of the fire."