7 killed in hotel fire in India's West Bengal

At least seven people were killed and several others injured Monday in a devastating fire inside a hotel in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, police said.

The fire broke out during the wee hours on the ground floor of a four-story hotel in Tarapith town of Birbhum district, about 220 km north of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal.

"The victims died of asphyxiation after toxic smoke from the burning false ceiling and fibreglass and other inflammable materials used in the ground-floor reception," a police official said.

Reports said most of the guests were asleep when the blaze erupted. The guests who woke up following the fire were reportedly disoriented and struggled to find an escape route, according to police.

Immediately after receiving the distress call, police and firefighters rushed to the spot to bring the fire under control and rescue the people from inside the hotel.

Officials said some of those killed were pilgrims who had traveled to Tarapith to offer prayers at the town's Hindu temple.

The cause of the fire, which spread rapidly to the upper floors, is being ascertained. Some reports suggest that the fire was triggered due to a short circuit.

Police have registered a case and ordered a probe into the incident.

xinhua