Emergency exit of hotel locked, claims Alphons

Union minister K. J. Alphons on Tuesday said the emergency exit of the Arpit Palace hotel, where 17 people were killed in a fire that broke out early Tuesday, was “too narrow” and also locked.

The minister, who visited the site of the tragedy in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh locality, said he was sure that there would be violation of norms.

The Union tourism minister said there were a lot of wooden structures inside, which may have helped the fire spread.

“When I headed to the emergency exit, I found that it had been locked yesterday ( Monday night). Also, it was too narrow,” he told reporters.

“Obviously, even if people came to the emergency exit, they could not have escaped as it was too narrow and it was locked anyway,” he said.

Mr Alphons said he spoke to the mayor and asked him to check whether all regulations were in place and to take immediate action if there was any lapse on the part of the hotel management.

While the Delhi government ordered a magisterial probe, home minister Satyendar Jain said he has also directed the fire department to inspect buildings which are five

When I headed to the emergency exit, I found that it had been locked. Also, it was too narrow

— K. J. Alphons, Union minister

floors or more and submit a report on their fire safety compliance within a week.

“Seventeen people have died, most of them of suffocation. Apparently, there were lapses ( from the hotel management's side). Action will taken against those found guilty,” he said.

The hotel was first granted a licence in October 2005 and was renewed every year. The last renewal was done on May 25, 2018 and was valid till March 31.

“As per information gathered from the site, it reveals that the incidence of fire accrued at second floor at around 3.30 am on February 12 due to shortcircuit,” a North Delhi Municipal Corporation official said.