Major fire in five-star hotel, all guests safe

New Delhi, Jan 26 (UNI) Nearly 500 people had a providential escape this afternoon when a major fire swept through one of the capital's upmarket hotels in the Vasant Kunj area of South-West Delhi.

The fire engulfed nearly two floors of the six-storey, 390-room 'Grand Hotel' at about 1230 hrs, but was brought under control within nearly two-and-a-half hours, said a senior Fire Brigade official.

''There were about 500 guests in the hotel when the fire started from the hotel's basement, where the kitchen of one of its Japanese restaurant 'Enoki' was situated.'' All of them were evacuated in time and no one was injured, he said.

''However, two fire brigade personnel received minor injuries in the rescue operation.'' Because of the heavy woodwork in the restaurant on ground floor, smoke spread all over the hotel leading to panic.

Later all guests were evacuated safely and the hotel, situated on Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj, closed. The guests have been shifted to two hotels, the official added.

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