A devastating fire broke out at a hotel in the temple town of Tarapith in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, resulting in the loss of nine lives. The fire, which occurred on Monday, August 17, 2026, also left several injured. Five of the deceased were from Meghalaya, while four were from West Bengal’s Alipurduar.
The hotel’s owner, Kalyan Pal, and his son, Prabir Pal, were arrested on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in connection with the blaze. Police alleged that their investigation found several lapses in fire-safety arrangements at the establishment. The Fire and Emergency Services Department’s initial assessment suggested that the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit on the ground floor of Hotel Bideshini.
The fire erupted around 4:30 a.m. on the ground floor of the four-storey hotel, when most guests were asleep. The hotel had two exits, but due to the fire, the electric supply was disconnected, leaving many unable to locate the rear exit in the darkness. Birbhum SP Vidit Raj Bhundesh stated that the fire might have been caused by a short circuit on the ground floor before spreading to other parts of the building.
In response to the tragedy, the Birbhum district administration has ordered inspections of hotels, guest houses, and homestays in Tarapith to check the presence of permanent fire-safety systems and assess the condition of electrical wiring and installations. At least 15 hotels in the area were found operating with several violations of building safety by-laws, and the officials directed that those hotels be sealed immediately.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom, particularly with the death of five members of a family from Meghalaya. Authorities are coordinating with the Meghalaya government and local administration to facilitate support for the victims’ families. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed grief over the deaths and assured that those responsible would be punished according to the law. Former chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also expressed her condolences over the incident.
