Disasters & Incidents
India hotel fire kills eight Hindu devotees in Tarapith
A hotel fire in Tarapith in India's West Bengal state killed eight people on Monday while they were visiting to offer prayers during the Hindu holy month of Shravan, officials said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. The victims had travelled to Tarapith to pay homage to the Hindu deity Shiva on the final Monday of Shravan.
Separately, seven pilgrims were killed and 19 others injured in a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district in neighbouring Bihar. District magistrate Shailendra Kumar told AFP the stampede was triggered after rumours spread that an electric pole had fallen on devotees inside the temple premises.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced compensation of 400,000 rupees, or about $4,180, for the family of each victim. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed grief for the families of those killed in the hotel fire.
Update
A hotel fire in Tarapith in West Bengal killed eight people on Monday.
The fire victims had travelled to Tarapith to offer prayers on the final Monday of Shravan.
The cause of the Tarapith hotel fire was not immediately known.
Officials said at least 15 people were killed across the Tarapith hotel fire and the separate Bihar temple stampede.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 August 2026 at 11:30:41 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The cause of the Tarapith hotel fire was not immediately known.
Source
AFP news report published on .