Tarapith Hotel Fire Leads To Arrest And Pond Search

Police have arrested hotel owner Pravir Pal following a massive fire at Hotel Videshini in the Tarapith pilgrimage site of Birbhum district. This incident has resulted in nine deaths so far, and the owner's son, Kalyan Pal, was also arrested after questioning on Monday. Authorities are now conducting a search operation in a nearby pond using boats to check for any missing persons who may have jumped into the water to escape the flames.

Cause of the fire

Initial investigations suggest that the fire started early Monday morning around 5:00 AM. A short circuit in the MCB of an air conditioner located in the hotel reception area is believed to be the cause of the blaze. The fire spread rapidly throughout the building, trapping many guests inside.

Safety concerns and investigation

Witnesses have raised serious concerns about the fire safety measures at the hotel. Reports indicate that the fire alarm system did not activate, and the emergency exit was locked, preventing many guests from escaping safely. As a result, several people were forced to jump from the second and third floors or use tree branches and pipes to reach the nearby pond. Police are currently investigating the hotel's safety protocols and the reason behind the locked emergency exit to determine the full circumstances of this tragedy.