Kolkata, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
At least six people were killed and several others critically injured after a fire broke out at a five-storey hotel in Tarapith in West Bengal’s Birbhum district early Monday morning.
The injured have been admitted to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, where doctors said the condition of some patients remained critical and the death toll could rise.
The fire broke out around 5 a.m. at Hotel Bideshini, located near a pond and close to Tarapith Police Station. Preliminary investigation suggests that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze, which quickly spread through the hotel.
Most of the guests were asleep when the fire started, and several children were also staying at the hotel.
Eyewitnesses said the premises were engulfed in smoke within minutes, leaving several guests trapped inside. Panic spread among the hotel occupants and people in the surrounding area.
Police personnel reached the spot quickly because of the hotel’s proximity to the police station. Several fire tenders were deployed and eventually brought the blaze under control. However, a substantial portion of the ground floor was damaged.
Some guests suffered severe burns, while others fell ill after inhaling smoke. Rescue teams evacuated the injured and shifted them to the hospital.
Hotel owner Kalyan Paul said the night watchman noticed the fire soon after it broke out and immediately activated the fire extinguishers. The power supply was also disconnected, he said.
Paul said combustible fibre-optic material used in the hotel’s furnishings had caught fire by then, allowing the blaze and smoke to spread rapidly.
“Although the fire was mainly restricted to the ground floor, the smoke rose to the fifth floor. The residents started coming out of their rooms in panic,” he said.
According to Paul, an exit door was available at the rear of the hotel, but several guests could not locate it amid the panic. Many instead rushed towards the reception area while trying to escape, resulting in several people suffering burns.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire and examining the safety arrangements at the hotel.
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