MANAMA: More than 60 Bahraini pilgrims narrowly escaped death after fire broke out in their hotel in Karbala, Iraq.

Several suffered hand and leg injuries as they smashed windows in their rooms and in the corridors in panic to escape.

Iraqi firemen rushed to the scene and safely evacuated guests and prevented the fire, which broke out on Friday evening, from spreading.

Bahrain’s Ambassador to Iraq Salah Al Maliki yesterday confirmed all the Bahrainis were safe. “There were 63 Bahrainis including families staying at the hotel which caught fire because of a short circuit,” he told the GDN from Baghdad.