Tarapith hotel fire kills seven several injured

At least seven people were killed and several others were critically injured in a fire that engulfed a hotel in the temple town of Tarapith, West Bengal, early on Monday. The blaze, which is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, broke out around 4:30 a.m. on the ground floor of Hotel Bideshini while most guests were asleep.

Emergency services responded quickly, with fire tenders rushed to the scene to control the flames. The injured were evacuated and taken to the nearby Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police initially reported a death toll of five, which was later revised to seven. Officials noted that some of the victims were pilgrims who had traveled to the town to offer prayers at the famous Kali temple.

The fire reportedly started in the ground floor and produced toxic smoke from burning materials like false ceilings and fiberglass, which quickly rose through the building. Several guests were trapped, and panic ensued as the entire hotel became engulfed in smoke. Survivors described a desperate struggle to find escape routes in the low visibility. A woman from Kolkata who escaped the fire recounted the chaos, stating...