Kolkata, Aug 17 (IANS) The death toll in the hotel fire at Tarapith in Birbhum district of West Bengal on Monday rose to eight, police confirmed. Among the victims, five were members of the same family from Meghalaya who had come to the holy town to offer Puja at the iconic Goddess Tara temple.
According to police, the five family members were staying on the fifth floor of the hotel building, where the fire had not reached.
However, in panic, they rushed down the staircase to the ground floor, where the blaze was critical.
“All five were engulfed in fire and ultimately died,” a district police officer said.
The deceased include five adult males, one woman and two minors. The five family members from Shibbari village in South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, were identified as Rajendra Nath, Asha Nath, Buran Modak, Oushonath Modok and Shibraj Modak, aged eight and ten.
The other three victims were Kamal Roy, Amit Paul and Subir Saha, all residents of Alipurduar district in North Bengal.
Administration sources said 28 people were safely evacuated from the hotel, while seven are undergoing treatment at Rampurhat Government Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, police arrested hotel owner Kalyan Paul of ‘Bideshini’. Investigators are probing whether the hotel’s firefighting system was functional and if fire safety rules were followed.
Residents alleged that an exit door at the back of the hotel was closed, preventing escape. Paul countered that panic prevented residents from locating the exit, leading them to rush through the reception area where many were burnt.
Police are investigating these claims and counterclaims.
–IANS
src/dan