The Associated Press reports a shoddily built budget hotel in New Delhi, India was engulfed in flames early Tuesday, killing 17 people, Indian authorities reported.
An official told the news agency most of the deaths at the Arpit Palace Hotel were caused by suffocation.
A guest told the Associated Press rescue efforts were hampered because fire engine ladders were unable to reach his floor.
The hotel, located in Karol Bagh, an area in the capital full of shops and budget hotels popular with tourists, had 43 rooms, its website reported.
Aside from the deaths, The Associated Press reported, almost three dozen people were rescued from the hotel.
Sivanand Chand, 43, a hotel guest who was jolted awake during the blaze around 4 a.m., said he struggled to breathe from the smoke.
"When I got out of my room, I could hear, 'help, help!' from adjoining rooms," Chand said, adding he opened the window and saw flames rising very fast. "In 15 minutes, the whole room was black,” the report said.
– WN.com, Jack Durschlag
Photo:
AP / Manish Swarup
