Tarapith (WB): At least seven people were killed and several others critically injured in a fire at a hotel in West Bengal’s Birbhum district early on Monday, police said.
The fire erupted around 5 am on the ground floor of the four-storey hotel in the temple town of Tarapith, when most of the guests were asleep, they said.
Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and they brought the blaze under control.
According to preliminary sources, many died due to smoke inhalation in their enclosed rooms, resulting in six fatalities. The police and administration are working to identify the deceased.
Tarapith is currently witnessing a huge influx of devotees, coinciding with the last Monday of the holy month of Shravan. Thousands of pilgrims from Bihar and Jharkhand are arriving directly from Deoghar, alongside large groups of visitors from other regions; consequently, hotels are packed to capacity. This particular hotel was also crowded with pilgrims.
