Kolkata, Aug 2026 : The death toll in the devastating fire that broke out at a hotel in Tarapith in West Bengal’s Birbhum district rose to seven on Monday, with police confirming the arrest of the building’s owner as investigators began probing possible violations of fire safety norms.
Birbhum District Police Superintendent Vidit Raj Bundesh confirmed that seven people had died in the incident and identified the arrested hotel owner as Kalyan Paul, who owns the hotel named ‘Bideshini’. Police are examining whether the establishment’s firefighting equipment was functional and whether all mandatory safety regulations were being followed.
The fire broke out at around 5 a.m. at the hotel located close to Tarapith Police Station. Preliminary findings by the fire department suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze. Thick smoke quickly spread upwards and reached the fifth floor, creating panic among the guests staying inside the building.
Although the fire was largely confined to the first floor and partially affected the second floor, the heavy smoke reportedly caused significant distress to several people trapped inside. Police and fire personnel launched a rescue operation and evacuated 22 people from the hotel.
Seven pilgrims have so far been confirmed dead. According to officials, all the victims had travelled to Tarapith from different districts to offer prayers and perform rituals on the third Monday of the holy month of Shravan. The town witnessed a large influx of devotees on the occasion.
After the flames were brought under control, the injured were rescued and shifted to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Nine of those rescued were reportedly unconscious when they were brought out of the building. While several injured people were discharged after receiving primary medical attention, two continue to remain under treatment at the hospital. Officials said the remaining survivors were out of danger.
Meanwhile, questions have been raised over the hotel’s emergency evacuation arrangements. Several residents have alleged that an exit door at the rear of the hotel was locked or inaccessible during the fire, preventing them from escaping through that route.
The allegation contradicts Paul’s earlier explanation. The hotel owner reportedly claimed that the guests were overwhelmed by panic and could not locate the rear exit. According to him, many guests instead rushed towards the reception area, where several people were caught in the fire.
Investigators are examining both versions as part of the probe. Officials are also checking whether the hotel had complied with prescribed fire safety requirements and whether its emergency exits were accessible at the time of the incident.
Police confirmed that the hotel had a fire-extinguishing system and that the building had two separate staircases, as required under safety regulations. However, officials said the windows along the staircase areas were closed, preventing smoke from escaping and worsening conditions inside the building.
A district police officer said the accumulation of smoke was a major factor behind several people falling unconscious or becoming seriously ill. Police have taken Paul into custody and are questioning him to determine whether negligence or violations of safety regulations contributed to the deaths.
The investigation is continuing, with authorities expected to examine the condition of the hotel’s electrical installations, firefighting equipment, emergency exits and evacuation procedures before determining responsibility for the tragedy.
