The burning of a hotel in the center of the Indian capital, New Delhi, has killed at least 17 people. Among the dead are a woman and a child who had jumped out of a window of the six-story building to escape the flames, a firefighter spokesman said.
Accordingly, the fire broke out on an upper floor during the night of Tuesday – presumably because of a short circuit. Most of the victims died according to the information from smoke poisoning. Two people were taken to a hospital injured. According to initial findings were at the time of the fire, no foreigners in the hotel. Hotel Arpit Palace is located in the central Karol Bagh district, which offers budget accommodation and shopping for mainly Indian tourists.
The Health Minister of the Delhi Metropolitan Region, Satyendar Jain, announced an investigation. The hotel was two floors higher than allowed. Other buildings in the area would be checked for fire safety. The fire department spokesman said the restaurant on the top floor of the hotel had burned fiberglass panels – this violated fire safety regulations.
A Witness video broadcast in the Indian media shows huge flames surrounding the top floor of the hotel. The video also shows a person who hangs first on the roof terrace and then crashes to the ground.
The fire brigade brought the fire under control with around 25 fire trucks. 35 people were saved according to the speaker. Due to inadequate fire protection devices, missing emergency exits and outdated electrical systems, fires with many victims are frequent in India.
