New Delhi (TAN): At least 17 people died and several were injured in a fire that engulfed the top two floors of a budget hotel here that did not apparently follow fire safety norms.
Among the dead in the Tuesday morning fire are both Indian and foreign nationals, media reports said.
Hotel Arpit Palace, where the fire broke out, is located in central New Delhi’s Karol Bagh area. Popular with tourists, Karol Bagh is home to budget hotels and has crowded shopping streets.
Firefighters worked hard for several hours before they could bring the blaze under control. The fire is suspected to have caught from a short circuit.
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“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,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office tweeted.
India’s tourism minister and Delhi’s chief minister both visited the site. Two arrests have been made in the case.
The Delhi government has ordered a probe into the incident. Other buildings in the locality will also be checked to ensure they were following fire-safety norms.
