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Hotel fires in West Bengal

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2026-08-19 04:31 UTC → 2026-08-19 05:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A series of fatal hotel fires occurred in West Bengal in August 2026. On Monday, August 17, a fire at the Bideshini Hotel in Tarapith killed at least eight people, including five members of a single family from Meghalaya, including two children. Many victims were pilgrims visiting the Tarapith Temple for the holy month of Shravan. Preliminary investigations suggested an electrical short circuit near an air-conditioning switch in the reception area may have caused the blaze, which spread rapidly due to flammable interior materials such as fiberglass and false ceilings. The hotel owner, Kalyan Paul, and his father, Prabir Kumar Pal, were arrested following allegations of negligence and failure to contact the fire brigade. Guests reported that a closed rear emergency exit trapped them inside. The Meghalaya state government announced an ex-gratia payment of 2 lakh rupees to the families of the deceased pilgrims. On Wednesday, August 19, a second major fire broke out at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata, resulting in at least nine deaths, including a child. The victims were reportedly Bangladeshi citizens seeking medical treatment. The blaze began around 2:00 AM and spread rapidly, with thick smoke complicating rescue efforts. Emergency ~~responders~~ responders, including disaster management units, evacuated ~~several~~ approximately 60 people, while at least six others were injured. While the cause is still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest an explosion in an air conditioning unit may have triggered the incident. Authorities are investigating potential safety violations, including reports that the hotel lacked adequate fire extinguishing ~~systems~~ systems, may not have had a valid No Objection Certificate (NOC), and that exit doors were closed during the night.

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