A tragic fire broke out early Monday morning at Bidishini Hotel near the famous Tarapith Temple in West Bengal's Birbhum district, claiming the lives of seven pilgrims and leaving several others seriously injured. The incident occurred around 4:00 AM when guests, who had traveled from various parts of the country to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Monday, were asleep. Initial investigations suggest that a short circuit on the ground floor triggered the blaze, which rapidly engulfed the upper floors.
Firefighters rushed to the scene shortly after receiving the alert and initiated rescue operations. The flames quickly turned ferocious, filling the building with dense smoke and trapping sleeping guests inside. Local residents, along with BJP worker Priya Roy and emergency personnel, assisted in rescuing the trapped individuals. The injured and severely burnt victims were immediately transported to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
A survivor, Munmun Mandal, recalled the horror, stating that thick smoke overwhelmed the hotel within seconds, making breathing difficult and obscuring emergency exits. Heavy morning rain had kept most guests in deep sleep, leaving them no time to react. Although a police station is located right next to the hotel, the fire spread so rapidly that significant damage had already occurred before effective rescue measures could take full effect.
Administrative and police officials remain present at the site to monitor the situation and assess the full extent of the damage. While an official confirmation regarding the cause of the fire is still awaited, preliminary findings point toward a electrical short circuit. The heartbreaking tragedy has cast a pall of gloom and shock over the entire Tarapith region.