A fire broke out at a luxury hotel in Tarapith, the popular pilgrimage town in West Bengal's Birbhum district, in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering panic among guests. A major disaster was averted after firefighters and police reached the spot promptly and brought the blaze under control. No casualties were reported in the incident, news agency IANS reported.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

The fire broke out in a room on the second floor of the hotel at around 4 a.m. According to preliminary findings by the fire department, the blaze originated in the bed of room number 201. Thick black smoke soon engulfed the area and spread to other rooms, causing alarm among guests and people nearby.

Source: IANS via Hi India

A fire engine and police personnel rushed to the hotel, which stands along the road connecting Rampurhat with Tarapith, following the alert. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze before it could spread further. The administration said the hotel's occupants were unharmed, and no injuries or deaths were reported.

An investigation has been launched to establish the exact cause of the incident and assess the extent of the damage, which is yet to be determined. Officials are examining whether an electrical short circuit triggered the blaze or whether another factor was responsible. Fire department personnel are also checking whether the hotel had adequate fire safety arrangements and whether its firefighting equipment was properly installed and functional.

The incident has revived memories of a deadly hotel fire in Tarapith in August, and has once again raised concerns about fire safety at hotels and lodges in the pilgrimage town, which attracts large numbers of visitors through the year.