NEW DELHI — A fire engulfed a shoddily built budget hotel in central New Delhi early Tuesday, killing 17 people and injuring at least four others, including a woman from Myanmar who leaped from an upper floor to escape the flames, Indian authorities said. The hotel developer had a permit from the fire department to build up to four stories — the standard height in central Delhi. Hotel guest Sivanand Chand, 43, said he was jolted awake around 4 a.m., struggling to breathe. The hallway was dark and thick with smoke, so Chand turned back into his room and opened a window. It was not immediately clear how many guests and staff were inside the hotel, which had 43 guest rooms, according to its website.

Source: National Post February 12, 2019 04:45 UTC