Tarapith, Aug 17: A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Monday at Hotel ‘Bideshinii’, located near Tarapith Police Station in Birbhum District, West Bengal, claiming the lives of five pilgrims from the Dalu Chaipani area of West Garo Hills region bordering Bangladesh.
According to reports, the blaze erupted around 4:30 AM, allegedly triggered by an electrical spark. The fire spread rapidly through the hotel, trapping several guests inside before they could escape.
Among those staying at the hotel was a group of pilgrims from Dalu Chaipani who had travelled to Tarapith, a revered pilgrimage site in West Bengal. Five members of the group were unable to get out in time and were charred to death in the fire.
The deceased have been identified as:
Rajendra Nath (45)
Asha Nath (32) — wife of Rajendra Nath
Ayush Nath (8) — son of Rajendra Nath and Asha Nath
Buran Modak (45)
Shibraj Modak — son of Buran Modak
Six other pilgrims from the same group survived the fire and managed to escape unharmed.
The tragedy has cast a pall of grief over the Dalu Chaipani community in the Garo Hills, with the families of the victims now awaiting further details on the return of the mortal remains. Authorities in West Bengal are investigating the exact cause of the fire.
