Images showed flames and thick smoke billowing out of the top floor of the hotel, located in a congested part of the Indian capital. Guests at the hotel - popular with budget and business travellers - were unable to use corridors to escape because of wooden panelling, according to a fire officer.
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. He also directed the fire department to inspect other buildings in the congested area and file a report within a week.
Three Myanmar citizens staying at the hotel were missing, the NDTV news network reported. Most of the guests were sleeping at the time the fire broke out and suffocated to death. Four people were injured in the incident. It is estimated around 120 people were inside the hotel - built around 25 years ago - when the fire started.
"We have confirmed with hospital authorities the toll is now 17 including a child," Sunil Choudhary, a senior fire brigade official, told AFP. G.C. Misra, Delhi fire services director, said the blaze had been brought under control and that 35 people were rescued by firefighters in an operation lasting several hours and involving at least 25 fire engines.