Arvind Kejriwal announces Rs 5 lakh compensation for Karol Bagh fire victims

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went to Hotel Arpit Palace at Karol Bagh in New Delhi. The Delhi government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the dead. Seventeen people were killed and several injured in a massive fire that broke out in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area in the early morning hours today. The blaze was reported from Hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh, which has now been doused. “Fire has been doused. Bodies are being taken out now. Rescue operation underway,” Sunil Choudhary, Deputy Chief Fire Officer was quoted as saying. Initial probe suggests a short circuit to be the reason for the blaze. The chief minister also ordered a magisterial enquiry. 

Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit will visit the family of the fire victims at RML Hospital in the afternoon. She expressed her condolences. "I express my sorrow at the tragic death of several innocent people in a fire at #ArpitHotel in #KarolBagh. Our brave firefighters are working amidst extremely difficult circumstances to rescue those who are stranded in the building (sic)," she wrote on Twitter.

I express my sorrow at the tragic death of several innocent people in a fire at #ArpitHotel in #KarolBagh. Our brave firefighters are working amidst extremely difficult circumstances to rescue those who are stranded in the building.

— Sheila Dikshit (@SheilaDikshit) February 12, 2019

According to the latest reports, 25 fire tenders have been pressed into action. 45 people have been rescued from the burning hotel, whereas 8 people are said to be in critical condition. The dead include a mother a child. All the 13 taken to RLM hospital have died, of the 5 admitted to Lady Hardinge Hospital, 2 have succumbed to their injuries. Three injured persons have been shifted to Sir Gangaram Hospital.