Seven people died and at least 22 others were rescued after a fire broke out at the Hotel Bideshini near Tarapith Police Station in Birbhum district, West Bengal, in the early hours of Monday, 17 August. All seven victims were pilgrims who had travelled to Tarapith from various districts to perform puja on the third Monday of the holy month of Shravan. The hotel owner, Kalyan Paul, has been arrested and is currently being questioned by police.

How the Fire Broke Out

The blaze erupted at approximately 5 am on Monday at the hotel, which stands adjacent to the Tarapith Police Station. The fire department's initial assessment points to a short circuit as the probable cause. Smoke rose as high as the fifth floor, though the fire itself was largely contained to the first floor and partially to the second floor — a factor that, according to officials, limited the overall casualty count.

Critically, staircase windows within the building were reportedly closed, preventing smoke from escaping. 'Since the staircase windows were closed, the smoke could not escape. Therefore, many people fell ill due to the smoke,' a district police officer confirmed.

Conflicting Accounts Over the Exit Door

A key dispute has emerged between survivors and the arrested owner. Multiple hotel residents have alleged that a rear exit door was locked at the time of the fire, trapping them inside. Paul, however, has countered that the door was accessible but that panic prevented guests from locating it, causing them to rush toward the reception area instead — where many sustained burn injuries.

Birbhum District Police Superintendent Vidit Raj Bundesh confirmed that both sets of claims are under active investigation. The probe is also examining whether the hotel's firefighting infrastructure was functional and whether all mandated fire safety regulations were being followed at the time of the incident.

Rescue Operations and Casualties

Police and fire department personnel rescued 22 people from the building. Of those, nine were found unconscious. The injured were transported to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, where most have since been discharged after primary treatment. As of the latest update, two patients remain hospitalised and are continuing to receive medical care.

Fire Safety Compliance Under Scrutiny

Authorities have confirmed that Hotel Bideshini did have a fire-extinguishing system installed and that the building was equipped with two separate staircases as required under fire safety rules. Despite this, the closed staircase windows appear to have significantly worsened conditions inside the building by trapping smoke on upper floors.

The arrest of Paul marks the beginning of what is likely to be a broader accountability inquiry. Fire safety compliance at hotels near major pilgrimage sites has repeatedly come under scrutiny following similar incidents across India. With the investigation ongoing, authorities are expected to determine whether criminal negligence played a role in the deaths.