7 pilgrims killed in fire at hotel near Tarapith Temple in West Bengal

At least seven pilgrims were killed and several others injured after a fire tore through a hotel near the Tarapith temple in West Bengal’s Birbhum district early Monday (Augsut 17), trapping sleeping guests inside the building.

The fire broke out at around 5am on the ground floor of the Vid eshini Hotel, located close to the temple. It quickly spread through the building, filling the upper floors with thick smoke as most of the guests were still asleep.

Several guests staying in rooms on the upper floors were unable to escape. Some reportedly threw belongings from windows and other parts of the building in desperate attempts to alert people outside and seek help.

Firefighters and police rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the blaze and launched a rescue operation. After bringing the fire under control, emergency personnel searched the hotel room by room to ensure that no one remained trapped inside.

The injured were taken to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Some were reported to be in critical condition. Authorities were also working to identify the victims and inform their families.

Fire officials suspect an electrical short circuit may have triggered the blaze, although the cause has not yet been established. Police and fire authorities have launched an investigation into how the fire spread so rapidly and whether the hotel had adequate fire-safety measures in place.

The tragedy has raised fresh concerns over fire safety at hotels and guesthouses in Tarapith, a major pilgrimage destination that draws large numbers of visitors throughout the year. The town has a dense concentration of accommodation facilities serving pilgrims and tourists visiting the Tarapith temple.

The deaths have cast a pall of mourning over the pilgrimage town, while questions are likely to be raised over emergency exits, fire-fighting equipment and other safety measures at hotels catering to large numbers of visitors.