Friday 19 / April / 2024
New Delhi: A fire broke out at the Hotel Arpit Palace in a busy Karol Bagh neighbourhood of New Delhi, India, killing 17 people and injuring three others.
Local media reports said the victims included a woman and a child who were killed when they tried to jump from one of the hotel’s three-storied windows. The causes of the fire were not yet known.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a fire at Karol Bagh in Delhi. I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon.”
Indian Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, said: “Extremely anguished by the fire accident at Karol Bagh in Delhi. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
“The fire broke out early in the morning. It was a minor fire. The employees tried to control the fire on their own. But it soon spread. First call to fire was made at 4 am. It has been further alleged that the glass windows were jammed,” sources said.
“The windows failed to open when guests attempted to open them. Then they ran back into their room. Bodies were found in rooms with clasped hands. Some bodies were found under the table. A woman’s body was found with her child in a room. All electric plug points were loose. Fire spread from room no. 109,” the sources said.
One of the dead has been identified as Suresh Kumar, an Indian Revenue Service officer. Kumar, , jumped from the hotel building and suffered serious wounds on his head. He was taken to the hospital and was later declared dead.
