At least 17 people were killed in a massive fire that swept through a four-floor hotel in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area early Tuesday morning. The blaze, in which 35 people were injured, broke out on the first floor of the building at around 3:30 am due to a short-circuit, preliminary investigation suggested. Advertising The injured were rushed to three hospitals, including Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML). Of the 13 bodies that were taken to RML hospital, ten were identified – three from Kerala, one from Gujarat, and two from Myanmar. The other four, officials said, have been identified but efforts were on to ascertain where they came from. A video grab of the incident at the Arpit Palace Hotel also showed two people jumping from the fourth floor of the burning building, including women and a child. According to eyewitnesses, most deaths were caused due to suffocation. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was among the many politicians and officials who visited the spot, announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the next of kin of those killed. The government also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Home Minister Satyendar Jain said he has also directed the fire department to inspect buildings which are five floors or more and submit a report on their fire safety compliance within a week. “We have ordered for a magisterial inquiry into the case. Seventeen people have died, most of them of suffocation. Apparently, there were lapses (from the hotel administration’s side) and action will be taken against those found guilty,” he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in a tweet. 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: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 12, 2019 After visiting the site, Union minister KJ Alphons said the emergency exit of the hotel, was “too narrow” and also locked. A fire department official said some used fire extinguishers were found, suggesting people trapped inside tried to douse the flames in a bid to escape. There were 53 people in the 45-room budget hotel, which had a canopy on the terrace, housing what appeared to be a restaurant. Video grabs of the fire taken by an eyewitness showed flames billowing out from the terrace into the pre-dawn darkness. Advertising The hotel was first granted a licence in October 2005 and was renewed every year. The last renewal was done on May 25, 2018 and was valid till March 31.

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