The fire, which broke out due to short circuit yesterday, engulfed the one-room hostel where 74 students huddled. Local villagers could rescue all the students except the girl child, identified as Emjouly Malsum, who died on the spot.
Assistant Director of School Education of North Tripura district Barun Das said a Christian missionary group had obtained permission to run a primary school, but they admitted students up to class nine and had no permission to run the hostel.