Tarapith hotel fire: Manhunt for absconding owner as death toll hits 9
Synopsis
Nine people are dead after a fire gutted Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith — a pilgrim town in West Bengal — and the man most responsible, primary owner Tapas Paul, is on the run. Five of the nine victims were from the same Meghalaya family. A locked rear exit door, contradicting the co-owner's account, is now at the centre of a criminal probe.
Key Takeaways
The fire at Hotel Bideshini , Tarapith , Birbhum district , on 18 August killed nine people by Monday night.
Five victims belonged to the same family from Meghalaya , visiting Tarapith for prayers at the Goddess Tara temple .
Primary owner Tapas Paul is absconding; police have launched a manhunt.
Co-owner Kalyan Paul was arrested and is to be produced in a Birbhum district court on Tuesday ; he allegedly misled investigators about the cause of deaths.
Survivors contradict Kalyan's claim, stating the rear exit was locked , trapping guests.
A forensic probe and a sweeping fire-safety audit of all Tarapith hotels are now underway.
A massive police manhunt is underway in West Bengal to trace Tapas Paul, the primary owner of Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith, Birbhum district, who went absconding after a devastating fire on Monday morning, 18 August claimed nine lives by Monday night. The blaze at the pilgrim town — home to the revered Goddess Tara temple — has triggered criminal proceedings, a forensic probe, and a sweeping safety audit of all hotel accommodations in the area.
Arrest and Court Hearing
Kalyan Paul, son of the absconding owner and a co-owner of Hotel Bideshini, was arrested and is scheduled to be produced before a district court in Birbhum on Tuesday. The public prosecutor is expected to seek police custody for further interrogation.
The primary charge against Kalyan is that he allegedly attempted to mislead investigators about the cause of deaths immediately after the fire broke out. He claimed that panic prevented guests from locating a rear exit door, forcing them toward the reception area where many were burnt. However, several survivors have contradicted this account, stating that the rear exit door was locked, leaving residents with no choice but to flee through the reception.
Who the Victims Were
By Monday evening, eight fatalities had been confirmed. Of these, five were members of the same family from Meghalaya, who had travelled to Tarapith to offer prayers at the Goddess Tara temple. A ninth victim, Rajesh Sharma, a resident of Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district, North Bengal, died later on Monday while undergoing treatment at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital.
Investigation and Forensic Probe
Birbhum District Police registered a suo motu case in connection with the fire. According to a district police source, a forensic team has already collected samples to assess the lodge's overall safety compliance. Police have simultaneously launched their own parallel investigation into the circumstances of the blaze.
Notably, investigators are examining electrical infrastructure — including wiring, distribution boards, meters, earthing, and permitted load limits — alongside fire safety systems such as extinguishers, hydrants, pumps, water tanks, hose reels, fire alarms, emergency lighting, and smoke detection equipment.
Citywide Safety Audit Ordered
Authorities have extended the scrutiny beyond Hotel Bideshini: the electrical and fire safety systems of all hotel and lodge accommodations in Tarapith are now being inspected. Exit routes, staircases, and emergency evacuation paths will also be verified, as will whether establishments hold valid fire safety clearances — a requirement that, critics argue, is routinely overlooked at pilgrimage towns across India.
What Happens Next
The search for Tapas Paul remains the most urgent priority for investigators. With Kalyan Paul's custody hearing on Tuesday, police are expected to press for details on the hotel's fire safety compliance history and the circumstances that led to the rear exit allegedly being locked. The safety audit across Tarapith's accommodation sector is expected to determine how widespread the lapse may be.
Point of View
Yet fire safety enforcement at their often-informal lodge sector is notoriously lax. The fact that the primary owner fled within hours of the blaze suggests awareness of serious non-compliance. The broader audit now ordered across Tarapith's accommodation sector is overdue, but it should not have taken nine deaths to trigger it.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Tarapith hotel fire?
The exact cause of the fire at Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith is still under investigation. A forensic team has collected samples and police are examining the hotel's electrical systems, including wiring, distribution boards, and earthing, as potential factors.
Who is Tapas Paul and why is he being hunted?
Tapas Paul is the primary owner of Hotel Bideshini, the Tarapith lodge where the fire occurred on 18 August. He went absconding shortly after the blaze and is being sought by Birbhum District Police in connection with the deaths of nine people.
Why was co-owner Kalyan Paul arrested?
Kalyan Paul, son of absconding owner Tapas Paul and a co-owner of the hotel, was arrested for allegedly misleading investigators about the cause of deaths. Survivors dispute his claim that panic prevented guests from finding the rear exit, saying the exit door was locked.
Who were the victims of the Tarapith hotel fire?
Nine people died in the fire. Five were members of the same family from Meghalaya who had come to Tarapith to offer prayers at the Goddess Tara temple. A ninth victim, Rajesh Sharma of Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district, died while under treatment at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital.
What action is being taken to prevent similar fires in Tarapith?
Authorities have ordered a comprehensive fire and electrical safety audit of all hotel and lodge accommodations in Tarapith. Inspections will cover fire extinguishers, hydrants, alarms, smoke detectors, emergency lighting, exit routes, and whether establishments hold valid fire safety clearances.
