A devastating fire broke out at a hotel near the Tarapith Temple in West Bengal’s Birbhum district in the early hours of Monday, claiming the lives of eight people, including five residents of Meghalaya. The deceased from Meghalaya have been identified as Rajendra Nath, Asha Nath, Buran Madak, 10-year-old Shivraj Madak, and eight-year-old Aushnath Madak, all from Sibbari Baghmara in South Garo Hills. The other victims were Kamal Roy, Amit Pal, and Subir Saha, all from Alipurduar in West Bengal.
According to officials, the victims were rescued from the hotel but were subsequently declared dead. Six other residents of Sibbari Baghmara were also evacuated and are reported to be safe. The blaze reportedly started at around 4:30 am on the ground floor of the four-storey hotel, while most of the occupants were asleep.
A large number of guests had travelled to Tarapith to offer prayers on the final Monday of the Shravan month. As smoke rapidly engulfed the upper floors, several guests were trapped inside the building, but firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control. There were 43 people staying at the hotel at the time of the incident.
Of these, one person remains under treatment at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, while 34 others were discharged following preliminary medical examinations. Some of the survivors sustained burn injuries, while others suffered from smoke inhalation and asphyxiation. Hotel authorities have attributed the fire to a possible short circuit near the reception area, but officials are yet to determine the exact cause.
Police have detained one person in connection with alleged shortcomings in the hotel’s fire-safety arrangements. In the wake of the incident, the Birbhum administration has directed officials to conduct a special audit of electrical installations and fire-safety measures at hotels and lodges across Tarapith. The inspection has been ordered ahead of the upcoming Kaushiki Amavasya festival.
President Droupadi Murmu and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma have expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, while former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also mourned the deaths and expressed her condolences to the families of the victims. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K.
Sangma said the state government was in touch with West Bengal authorities and coordinating on the situation. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured a speedy recovery. Sangma stated, ‘Pained to learn about the fire incident… that claimed the lives of five residents from South Garo Hills and injured six others from our state.’
