Published : 17 Aug 2026, 05:31 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:33 AM
Seven people have been burnt to death after a fire broke out at a four-storey hotel in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, reports the Indian Express.
Local residents told the Indian outlet that the blaze started around 4:30am on Monday in the reception area of Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith.
The fire spread quickly, engulfing the ground floor as thick smoke rose to the upper levels.
False ceilings and fibre interior panelling aided the spread of the blaze, they said.
The hotel was packed with tourists visiting the nearby Tarapith Temple during the holy month of Shravan.
Guests took refuge on open balconies or climbed down to escape the flames. Others could be seen screaming for help.
Local police and fire service personnel rushed to the scene when the incident was reported.
Fire officials confirmed seven people had died, noting that victims were likely asleep when the fire started.
The exact causes of the deaths will be determined after a detailed postmortem.
Although the hotel had a rear exit and emergency staircase, the path to the emergency exit was locked, fire officials said. They had to be broken for rescuers to get inside.
Injured guests, some with burn injuries, were taken to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital.
“We were on the ground floor when we suddenly heard a commotion,” guest Samarjit Paul told the Indian Express. “As we opened the door, the heat of the flames hit us. We quickly closed the door, switched off all the lights and fans, rushed to the balcony, and jumped out.”
Another guest staying on the first floor said, “We woke up to people shouting and screaming and saw a lot of smoke. We could hardly see anything. My husband and I quickly grabbed our children and rushed to the balcony. My husband climbed down the parapet, I passed the children to him, and then I climbed down. It was very scary.”
Fire service officers on the scene say they initially suspect a short circuit as the cause of the blaze, but a full investigation will make the official determination.
Rescue officials have searched all rooms to ensure no one remains inside. The hotel has been sealed. Several residents who escaped were seen searching for missing relatives outside.
