Massive fire in Karol Bagh hotel kills 17

New Delhi: In a tragic incident, as many as 17 people died and several others were injured when a fire broke out owing to short circuit at Arpit Palace Hotel in Central Delhi’s Karol Bagh area in the early hours of Tuesday. Among the dead, two were Buddhist pilgrims from Myanmar.

The blaze, which injured over a dozen people, was triggered around 3.30 am, trapping many guests who were deep in sleep.

A call was received at 4.35 am and 24 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior Delhi Fire Service official said. Some 100 fire fighters responded to the fire, which engulfed all but the ground floor of the hotel, he added.

A video shot by a worker at a nearby hotel showed flames consuming the top of the building, which authorities said housed an unauthorised makeshift kitchen made with sheets of fibreglass.

Later in the day, the Delhi police arrested general manager Rajender and manager Vikas for culpable homicide.

DCP (Central) Mandeep Singh Randhawa said the hotel owner, Shardendu Goel, was absconding after the incident and the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch.

The Karol Bagh fire has once again raised concerns over fire safety in crowded marketplaces.

Preliminary investigation suggested a suspected short circuit that sparked the fire.

Most of the deaths at the hotel were due to suffocation, said Delhi home minister Satyendar Jain as he toured the site after the fire was extinguished.

The two deceased, who jumped from the terrace, were assistant commissioner (Income Tax department) Sukesh Kumar and a hotel staff member.

Two Buddhist pilgrims from Myanmar were killed while one was injured in the massive fire. The said deceased were part of a seven-member tourist group who had come to India on a Buddhist trail.

Delhi police has lodged a case under Sections 304 and 308 of the IPC against the owner as it found lapses on the part of the hotel authority.

According to officials, the fifth floor of the hotel was sealed with a brick wall during the issuance of the fire safety certificate.

However, the wall was later demolished to run the rooftop restaurant.

Rescuers had to break the windows to evacuate people because wood panelling in the corridors and stairwells fed the flames, said fire official Atul Garg.

The haunted memory of another massive fire tragedy, which took place in June 1997 at Uphaar Cinema Hall, was relived on Tuesday after this incident.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party attacked the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation over the hotel fire incident.