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Karol Bagh: Seventeen die in Delhi hotel fire | Karol Bagh: Seventeen die in Delhi hotel fire |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 17 people have died in a Delhi hotel fire that broke out early on Tuesday morning, police said. | |
Eye witnesses said the dead included a woman and a child who attempted to jump from a window to safety. | |
Officials said 35 people were rescued. Some were injured and have been taken to hospital. | Officials said 35 people were rescued. Some were injured and have been taken to hospital. |
Hotel Arpit Palace is located in Karol Bagh, an area popular with tourists for its budget hotels and shopping. | Hotel Arpit Palace is located in Karol Bagh, an area popular with tourists for its budget hotels and shopping. |
Videos recorded by eyewitnesses show people jumping from the building - in one of them, a man can be seen hanging on to the side of the building before he jumps off. | |
"There was wooden panelling in the corridor, because of which people couldn't use the corridors to leave the hotel," firefighter Vipin Kenta told the Hindustan Times newspaper. | |
He said they were still investigating what caused the fire. Local media reported that most of the deaths were caused by suffocation. | He said they were still investigating what caused the fire. Local media reported that most of the deaths were caused by suffocation. |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences. | |
Fire accidents are not uncommon in Indian cities, where builders often flout safety regulations. | Fire accidents are not uncommon in Indian cities, where builders often flout safety regulations. |
Many structures, both old and new, lack proper fire exits. In recent months, officials have shut down a number of shops and restaurants in some of Delhi's most exclusive neighbourhoods for not following fire safety measures. | Many structures, both old and new, lack proper fire exits. In recent months, officials have shut down a number of shops and restaurants in some of Delhi's most exclusive neighbourhoods for not following fire safety measures. |
Owners of commercial buildings have also been known to construct additional floors without the necessary permissions. | Owners of commercial buildings have also been known to construct additional floors without the necessary permissions. |
Delhi minister Satyendra Jain told the NDTV news website that the Arpit Palace had built a fifth floor with a kitchen and a terrace, even though the owners only had permission to build four storeys. | Delhi minister Satyendra Jain told the NDTV news website that the Arpit Palace had built a fifth floor with a kitchen and a terrace, even though the owners only had permission to build four storeys. |