NEW DELHI: At least 17 people were killed as a massive fire swept through a hotel in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh area early on Tuesday, police said.
The fire broke out at Arpit Palace hotel located on Gurdwara Road in Karol Bagh.At least 25 people have been rescued till now out of the 5-storey hotel and rescue operations are underway.
A call about the fire was received at 4.35 am and 24 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior officer from the Delhi Fire Service said.
The dead bodies have been taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Some injured were also taken to Sir Ganga ram Hospital and Lady Hardings Hospital.
According to eyewitnesses, most deaths were caused due to suffocation.The local administration officials have reached the incident site and monitoring the rescue operations.
Video recorded on cellphones by eye-witnesses showed huge flames crowning the terrace of the large, white building.Two people were even seen jumping off the five-storied-Hotel Arpit Palace in a bid to save themselves from the fire.
Delhi minister Satyendra Jain said action will be be taken against those found guilty of negligence in the fire that broke out today. “District Magistrate has ordered an inquiry,” he added.
