Shillong/Tarapith (WB), Aug 17: Five people from Meghalaya, including two children, were among eight persons killed in a fire at a hotel near Tarapith Temple in West Bengal’s Birbhum district in the early hours of Monday.
The deceased from Meghalaya have been identified as Rajendra Nath, Asha Nath, Buran Madak, and their young children, 10-year-old Shivraj Madak and 8-year-old Aushnath Madak — all residents of Dalu, West Garo Hills. The other three who died were Kamal Roy, Amit Pal and Subir Saha from Alipurduar, West Bengal.
Officials said the victims were rescued from the site but later declared dead. Six other residents of West Garo Hills— Ganesh Dey, Chandrika Naha, Dolon Naha, Madhabi Madak, Jitipriya Naha and Jharna Dey — were rescued and are reported safe.
The fire broke out around 4.30 am on the ground floor of the four-storey hotel when most guests were asleep. Many were devotees who had come for prayers on the last Monday of Shravan. Thick smoke spread to upper floors, trapping several guests. Fire tenders brought the blaze under control.
Of the 43 people in the hotel, one is undergoing treatment at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, and 34 have been discharged after preliminary examination. Some suffered burn injuries while others were affected by asphyxiation.
Hotel officials claimed a short circuit near the reception caused the fire, but the exact cause is yet to be established. Police have detained one person for alleged lapses in maintaining the hotel’s fire-fighting system.
The Birbhum administration has ordered a special audit of electrical and fire-safety arrangements in hotels and lodges in Tarapith ahead of the Kaushiki Amavasya festival.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed her profound condolences to all the bereaved families. “I am deeply saddened to learn about the loss of lives in the fire incident in Birbhum district of West Bengal. I express my profound condolences to all the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured in this accident,” the president said in a post on X in Hindi.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma expressed grief and said the state government is coordinating with West Bengal authorities. “Pained to learn about the fire incident… that claimed the lives of five residents from South Garo Hills and injured six others from our state. Extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishing speedy recovery to those injured,” he said.
Sangma said the Office of the Additional Resident Commissioner, Meghalaya House, is in close coordination with the District Administration of Birbhum to ascertain full details of the affected families and to extend all possible official support and assistance, including facilitating the transport of the mortal remains of the deceased to their native place.
The Meghalaya government has also announced ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of each of the five deceased.
Former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also condoled the deaths on X, praying for the victims and the recovery of those injured. (With PTI inputs)
