I-T officer from P’kula dies in Karol Bagh fire on wedding anniv

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 12

Additional Income Tax Officer Suresh Kumar (45) died while jumping off the fifth floor of Hotel Arpit Palace in New Delhi’s Karol Bagh as he tried to escape the fire that broke out in the wee hours of Tuesday. It was also his marriage anniversary today.

Suresh Kumar, a resident of Sector 21 here, was among the 17 persons who died after the fifth floor of the hotel caught fire. He received serious head injuries resulting in his death on the spot.

A pall of gloom descended on the residence of the deceased where his wife Monika was in shock and unable to speak. One of the neighbours, Krishan Lal, said Suresh Kumar was very social and always used to ask about the welfare of his family members. He said after the incident he had visited the deceased’s house and Monika told him that Suresh Kumar had spoken to her around 2 am as today was their marriage anniversary.

Suresh Kumar was posted at the Income Tax Office in Sector 2, Panchkula, for three years and after getting promotion, he had recently been transferred to New Delhi. Suresh Kumar used to go to office in Delhi on Monday and return to his house in Panchkula on Friday. He stayed in a room at Hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh, which was provided by the department. He sometimes also used to visit his sister’s residence in Delhi.

Deceased’s wife Monika is posted as a senior accounts officer with the HPMC at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. After receiving the news, Suresh Kumar’s son Suman Kumar, a student of BBA (second year) in Bengaluru, took a flight to Delhi. The deceased’s body will be brought to the city where his body will be cremated tomorrow. Neighbours and relatives reached the house of the deceased to offer their condolences to the bereaved family.

Jumped off hotel in bid to save himself

Suresh Kumar, a resident of Sector 21, Panchkula, was among the 17 persons who died after the fifth floor of the hotel caught fire. He received serious head injuries after jumping from the hotel in a bid to save himself, resulting in his death on the spot.

Was shifted to Delhi on promotion

Suresh Kumar was posted at the Income Tax Office in Sector 2, Panchkula, for three years and after getting promotion, he had recently been transferred to New Delhi. He stayed in a room at Hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh, which was provided by the department.