Massive fire at Delhi hotel, 17 people die

NEW DELHI: Seventeen people died and several others were injured when a fire broke out at a budget hotel in Karol Bagh before dawn on Tuesday. The deceased include two people who jumped off the building in a desperate bid to save themselves, and two Buddhist pilgrims from Myanmar.

Fire broke out on the second floor of Hotel Arpit Palace, located in a congested part of Karol Bagh, at around 3.30 am allegedly due to short circuit, trapping many guests who were asleep.

A call was received at 4.35 am, about an hour after the fire started, and 24 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior Delhi Fire Service official said.

A video shot by a worker from a nearby hotel showed flames engulfing the top of the building, which authorities said contained an unauthorised makeshift kitchen made with fibreglass sheets.

DCP (central) Mandeep Singh Randhawa said the hotel owner, Shardendu Goel, has been absconding after the incident and the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch.

The deceased include an IRS officer, Suresh Kumar (52), and two hotel staff. Kumar and the hotel cook, Tara Chand, jumped off the building in a desperate bid to escape, but died.

A 33-year-old Myanmar national, Chan Chan, also jumped off the over 25-year-old structure but survived with a fracture in her leg.