Shillong: Five residents of Meghalaya, including two children, were among eight people who died after a fire broke out at a hotel near the Tarapith Temple in West Bengal’s Birbhum district in the early hours of Monday.
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 five were 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 — Ganesh Dey, Chandrika Naha, Dolon Naha, Madhabi Madak, Jitipriya Naha and Jharna Dey — were also evacuated and are reported to be safe.
The blaze reportedly started at around 4.30am 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. 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 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. However, 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 expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayed for the recovery of those injured in the incident.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma also expressed grief over the deaths of the five residents from South Garo Hills. He said the state government was in touch with West Bengal authorities and coordinating on the situation.
“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,” Sangma said, conveying his condolences to the bereaved families and wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also mourned the deaths and expressed her condolences to the families of the victims, while praying for the recovery of those injured.
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