New Delhi: A massive fire broke out in a hotel in Karol Bagh, New Delhi, claiming several lives. According to the police, 17 people lost their lives in the blaze. There were 60 people in the hotel when the fire broke out, officials said. Among the people staying in the hotel, there was also a family of 10 members from Kerala. Several people have been injured.

According to GC Mishra, Delhi Fire chief, the fire services department responded to a call about the fire at around 4:30am. Fire was initially reported on the third and the fourth floor, but it soon spread to the other floors as well. Basement and ground floor was unaffected. Fire fighters are searching the rooms and toilets to see if any one is trapped there. They made entries at various levels. They were fighting the fire and rescuing people as well. When the fire tenders reached, the building was engulfed by flames. The building may have caught fire much earlier and it might have been reported later as many people were sleeping at that time.

The fire was eventually contained, and a cooling operation was initiated. Search and rescue operations are still on.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but a short circuit is suspected.