Fire breaks out at hotel in Delhi's Karol Bagh area: LIVE updates

Update at 11:40 AM on February 13: Two people have been arrested in connection with the Karol Bagh fire incident.

Update at 2:00 PM: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announces ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the victims of the fire. He added that an enquiry will be conducted to determine hotels that violate norms.

Update at 1:27 PM: BJP chief Amit Shah expresses condolences over lives lost to the incident:

Update at 12:30 PM: Fire in Karol Bagh hotel. 17 causalities 2 injured. Magistrate enquiry ordered. Visible violations of building bye laws, building constructed 6 stories including one temporary floor instead of permissible 4 floors. Ordered fire inspection of buildings in the area: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Update at 11:58 AM: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal heads to the accident site:

Update at 11:18 AM: PM Modi issues statement expressing his sorrow over lives lost due to the fire:

Update at 11:15 AM: CFSL team as well as the NDRF has reached the incident spot. The name of the hotel's owner is Rakesh Goyal, and the establishment itself is named after his son Arpit. It's been operational for 25 years. Another fire incident had happened there about 18 years back, Republic TV has learnt.

Update at 9:55 AM: Death toll reaches to 17.

Update at 9:50 AM: Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit expresses sorrow at the tragic incident.

Update at 9:35 AM: It was due to fire in ducting because of which it had spread to the hotel rooms. All norms were followed here; license is issued only after inspection. Mishappening can occur in a house as well: Balan Mani, Delhi Hotel Association Vice President

Update at 9:28 AM: Death toll goes up to 15. 

Update at 8:45 AM: Cause of fire is yet to be investigated. 30 fire tenders had rushed to the spot. Rescue operation is over. There was a wooden paneling on corridor because of which people couldn't use corridors to evacuate; two had jumped off the building: Vipin Kental, Fire Officer

Update at 8:30 AM: "Fire has been doused. Bodies are being taken out now. Rescue operation underway," says Sunil Choudhary, Deputy Chief, Fire Officer.

Update at 8:00 AM: 9 people reported dead in the fire. Rescue operation still underway. More than 26 fire tenders present at the spot. Latest visuals by ANI. Three members of a family are missing. Seven were safely removed to a nearby government hospital.

Update at 7:30 AM: 8 people confirmed dead in the fire that broke in Karol Bagh hotel. Rescue operation continues.

A massive fire broke out in Hotel Arpit Palace in the Karol Bagh area of New Delhi on Tuesday morning. As per reports, the fire broke at 4 AM on Tuesday morning. Around 20 fire tenders are present at the spot. Two people have been reported dead in the fire and around 20 people have been safely rescued from the hotel.

The cause of the fire cannot be ascertained by the Delhi police yet. Meanwhile, the fire tenders are trying to bring the fire under control.

Visuals of the fire: ANI

More details awaited. 

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