17 Dead in a Major Fire at Arpit Palace in New Delhi’s Karol Bagh Area
Two dozen fire engines rushed to the spot who brought the situation under control by 7 am. It is being said that most of the deaths have taken place due to suffocation.
A major fire broke out in Arpit Palace in New Delhi’s Karol Bagh area at 4 am today. At least 17 people are dead which includes a woman and a child who tried jumping from a window. Several others are injured who have been taken to various hospitals. 35 people have been rescued from the hotel. Videos captured by eye-witnesses show massive flames on the terrace of the hotel.
Most of the people in the 65 room hotel were sleeping when the fire broke out according to the staff of the hotel. There were at least 150 people in the six-storey white building when the fire broke out. The fire broke on the top two floors. People tried to flee from the narrow corridors however the wooden panelling made it all the more difficult. Many were unable to break through the windows in their rooms.
Two dozen fire engines rushed to the spot who brought the situation under control by 7 am. It is being said that most of the deaths have taken place due to suffocation. There were many foreigners as well as Indians from different parts of India residing in the hotel.
Investigations are underway and according to Delhi’s Urban Development Minister Satyendra Jain; strict action will be taken against hotel authorities if they are found guilty.
The Vice President of Delhi Hotel Association told news agency ANI that Hotel Arpit Palace followed all fire norms and the incident occurred because of fire in the ducting that ultimately spread to the hotel rooms. Mr. Balan Mani said. “License is issued only after inspection.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident. He 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.”
According to Urban Development Minister Mr. Jain the law limits construction to only four floors, this hotel had a fifth floor. The kitchen and a dining area on the top floor is another violation. It is a clear case of negligence on the part of the hotel authorities. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to look into the case.
Several budget tourists from all over India and abroad flock to Karol Bagh area that houses a number of hotels like Arpit Palace. Despite rampant checks by authorities these hotels fail to follow the safety evacuation procedures and fail to implement proper safety guidelines.