India: 17 killed as fire breaks out at Delhi hotel

New Delhi:  At least 17 people were killed including a woman and a child when a fire broke out at a hotel in Delhi on Tuesday .

The woman and child died when they jumped from a window to escape the fire which erupted at the budget Hotel Arpit Palace.

According to a rescue official, guests were unable to use corridors to escape because of wooden panelling.

Delhi home minister Satyendra Jain told reporters that rules were flouted to construct extra floors, with a terrace being used as an open air restaurant, according to AFP news agency.

Three foreigners were also reported missing from the hotel after the incident, a local broadcaster said.

NDTV reported the foreigners were Myanmar citizens who were staying at the hotel.

The AFP reported that most of the guests were sleeping at the time the fire broke out and suffocated to death.

Four people were injured in the incident.