Delhi: 17 Dead As Fire Breaks Out In Karol Bagh Hotel, Number Of Injured Yet To Be Ascertained

A massive fire broke out in a Hotel in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area in the wee hours of Tuesday (12 February) resulting in the loss of lives of 17 people, and injuring many others, reports India Today.

According to the report, the exact number of injured in the fire incident at Hotel Arpit Palace is yet to be ascertained. A call about the fire was received at 4.35 am and fire tenders were rushed to the spot. They were able to rescue some of the stranded guests in the hotel.

Officials informed that the fire started due to a short circuit. Thick smoke and huge flames could be reportedly seen emanating from the 40-room hotel till around 7am. The rescue operation was called off at around 9.50 am and the cooling process was started.

“The fire has been doused. We have to look for bodies, if any, inside the hotel. Those injured have been sent to hospital. Two hotel staff members had jumped from the fourth floor of the hotel in an attempt to save themselves. The status of the staff who jumped is yet to be known,” deputy chief fire officer Sunil Choudhary was quoted in ANI report as saying.

Fire officer Vipin Kenta said that two people jumped off the building out of panic when the fire broke out. “There was wooden paneling on corridor because of which people couldn’t use corridors to evacuate; 2 had jumped off the building,” he said, as reported by Hindustan Times.