At least 10 people, including two women, were killed and several others injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh on Friday, police said.
The fire started at the Goyal Hotel in Babaganj area under Kotwali police station early in the morning when most of the hotel guests were asleep.
Those killed were identified as Basant Narain (35), Om Prakash (35), both doctors, Manoj Sharma (30), who is a journalist with a Hindi Daily, Satyavrat (40), Brijesh Kumar (32), Dileep (22) and Priyanka (24) and Khalik Kirmani (50).
According to reports, a guest staying in the hotel was the first to raise an alarm and inform the fire department. Firefighters, with the help of locals, doused the fire and began rescue efforts.
According to reports, a guest staying in the hotel was the first to raise an alarm and inform the fire department. Firefighters, with the help of locals, doused the fire and began rescue efforts.
The dead include a senior executive of a leading Hindi daily and doctors who were staying in the hotel as guests.
Thirteen guests suffered burns and other injuries as they tried to get out of the four-story building and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Nine people with serious burns were taken to SRN Hospital in Allahabad.
A dozen people were rescued and the fire has been put out, police said.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced Rs two lakh compensation for the kin of dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
(With agency inputs)