Seven Die as Fire Engulfs Hotel in West Bengal’s Tarapith

Tarapith (WB), Aug 17: At least seven people were killed and several others critically injured after a fire broke out at a hotel in West Bengal’s Birbhum district early Monday, police said.

The blaze 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 immediately rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. The injured were rescued and shifted to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

Hospital sources had initially reported that five people died in the fire. However, police later revised the death toll to seven.

Hotel officials claimed that the fire was caused by a short circuit. The exact cause of the blaze is yet to be officially established.

Further details about the identities of the deceased and the condition of those injured were awaited. (Agencies)