At least 21 killed in Delhi hotel fire, including foreign nationals
At least 21 people, including foreign tourists, were killed in a fire at a hotel in India's capital Delhi. Following the casualties, authorities said they are reviewing the hotel's fire-safety inspections.
BBC AsiaAccording to BBC, the fire began at night in a hotel in the Old Delhi area and spread rapidly. Authorities said narrow staircases and limited ventilation routes made evacuation difficult.
A Delhi mayor's office representative from the Aam Aadmi Party told BBC that fire-safety licences are being re-examined and the hotel's most recent inspection will be made public in the coming days. India's Home Ministry said the fatalities included nationals as well as tourists from three different countries.
ABC News Australia reported that meetings with some victims' families are being coordinated by the Australian consulate. Hotel Federation of India spokesperson Pradeep Shetty told BBC that inspection frequency at small-scale Delhi hotels has long been a topic of debate. Reuters reported that the investigation is focusing on an electrical fault as a suspected cause.
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