Locked exits, defunct fire-alarm system, killed 8 in Tarapith fire: Officials
Guests alleged that the fire alarm system did not work when the fire broke out. Many hoteliers learned about the fire when they heard screams
A fire at a hotel in Tarapith, West Bengal, resulted in the deaths of nine people on Monday morning. The primary reasons identified by officials were locked emergency exits on every floor, an absence of staff with the keys, and an allegedly non-functional fire-fighting system. The victims' bodies were discovered on staircases and in corridors.
Those who attempted to escape through staircases got trapped. Hotel guests reported that the fire alarm system was non-operational when the fire broke out, and they were unaware of the emergency due to a power cut, darkness, smoke, and fire in the corridors. Hoteliers learned about the fire through screams and shouts. One survivor, Biswanath Saha, stated that they locked themselves in the bathroom, opened windows to breathe, and turned on showers until the police arrived after around 45 minutes.
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