A devastating hotel fire at Tarapith in Birbhum district, West Bengal, on Monday, 17 August claimed eight lives, police confirmed. Among the dead, five were members of a single family from Meghalaya who had travelled to the holy town to offer prayers at the revered Goddess Tara temple.

How the Meghalaya Family Perished

According to police, the five family members were lodged on the fifth floor of the hotel — a floor the fire had not yet reached. In a fatal miscalculation driven by panic, they rushed down the staircase to the ground floor, where the blaze was at its most intense. 'All five were engulfed in fire and ultimately died,' a district police officer said.

The five victims were from Shibbari village in South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, identified as Rajendra Nath, Asha Nath, Buran Modak, Oushonath Modok, and Shibraj Modak — the last two aged eight and ten years respectively. The deceased group comprised five adult males, one woman, and two minors.

The Other Victims

The remaining three fatalities were Kamal Roy, Amit Paul, and Subir Saha, all residents of Alipurduar district in North Bengal. Administration sources said 28 people were safely evacuated from the hotel, while seven others are currently undergoing treatment at Rampurhat Government Medical College Hospital.

Hotel Owner Arrested, Fire Safety Under Scrutiny

Police have arrested Kalyan Paul, owner of the hotel 'Bideshini', in connection with the incident. Investigators are now probing whether the hotel's firefighting system was operational and whether prescribed fire safety norms were adhered to at the time of the blaze.

Residents alleged that a rear exit door of the hotel was locked, blocking a critical escape route. Paul, however, countered that panic caused guests to miss the exit, forcing them toward the reception area where many sustained fatal burn injuries. Police are investigating both versions of events.

A Tragedy at a Pilgrimage Town

Tarapith is one of West Bengal's most visited religious sites, drawing pilgrims year-round to the Goddess Tara temple. The fire has raised urgent questions about fire safety compliance in hotels catering to the town's large pilgrim footfall. This incident adds to a pattern of fire tragedies in budget lodgings near religious sites across India, where rapid commercialisation has often outpaced safety regulation. Notably, the victims from Meghalaya had arrived specifically for religious observance, underscoring the vulnerability of out-of-state pilgrims unfamiliar with building layouts.

Authorities are expected to conduct a broader review of fire safety compliance across hotels in Tarapith in the wake of the tragedy.