Dhoni & Co rescued safely after team hotel catches fire

A fire broke out in a Delhi hotel on Friday, leading to the evacuation of former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and players from Jharkhand, Bengal and Tamil Nadu. No one was hurt.

Published : Mar 17, 2017 11:17 IST

Jharkhand skipper M.S. Dhoni and his teammates escaped unhurt.
Jharkhand skipper M.S. Dhoni and his teammates escaped unhurt.
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Jharkhand skipper M.S. Dhoni and his teammates escaped unhurt.

A fire broke out in a Delhi hotel on Friday, leading to the evacuation of former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and players from Jharkhand, Bengal and Tamil Nadu. No one was hurt.

After a fire call was received at 6.30 a.m., 30 fire tenders reached WelcomHotel in Dwarka, the Delhi Fire Service said.

“It took around an hour to douse the flames,” a fire service officer said. “No casualties were reported.”

READ: Dhoni helps keep team calm

Deputy Commissioner of Police Surendra Kumar said that all players including Dhoni, who is leading the Jharkhand team, were safely evacuated.

“The incident took place just before the Jharkhand team was to leave for net practice,” Kumar added.

The Jharkhand and Bengal squads, which was also put up at the hotel, were scheduled to take on each other in the second semifinal of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Friday. The match was postponed.

The Tamil Nadu team, which has reached the final, was also staying at the same hotel.

The incident occurred before the start of the second semifinal of the domestic 50-over tournament at the Air Force Complex Ground in Palam.

The Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu players later assembled outside the hotel, eagerly waiting to retrieve their belongings, including kits. All three teams have been shifted to another hotel.

The incident forced the BCCI to postpone the second semifinal and the final of the tournament.

The venue of the second semifinal was also shifted to the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium where Bengal and Jharkhand will battle it out for a place in the summit clash on Saturday.

The final will now take place on Monday instead of Sunday, the BCCI said.

The BCCI also confirmed that all the players and match officials are unhurt and safe.

The semifinal, which was to be held on Friday, March 17, 2017 at the Airforce Complex ground, Palam in New Delhi will now be held at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Saturday, March 18.

The final will now be played on Monday, March 20 instead of Sunday, March 19 at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi.

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