Seven killed, several injured in hotel fire in West Bengal’s Tarapith
The fire erupted around 5 a.m. on the ground floor of the four-storey hotel in the temple town of Tarapith, when most of the guests were asleep
An electrical short circuit caused a devastating fire at Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith, West Bengal. The blaze erupted on the ground floor at around 4:30 a.m. on Monday, August 17, 2026, while many guests were still asleep. The hotel, located near the Tarapith police station, had two exits, but the fire left many stranded due to the disconnection of electric supply, making it difficult to reach the rear exit in the darkness.
Tragically, eight individuals lost their lives, with five belonging to the Garo Hills of Meghalaya and three hailing from Alipurduar district. The deceased included a family of five from Meghalaya, two of whom were children. The West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma both expressed condolences, with the latter pledging government support for the affected families.
The prime minister also shared his condolences on social media. Police suspect the fire started due to the short circuit and later spread to other parts of the building. Hotel owner Kalyan Pal was arrested, asserting that there was no problem with the hotel's fire safety system. The Birbhum district administration has ordered inspections of hotels, guest houses, and homestays in Tarapith to ensure proper fire safety measures and assess the condition of electrical wiring and installations.
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