A massive fire that broke out near Gulzar House in Hyderabad’s Old City, close to the iconic Charminar, claimed the lives of 17 people, including eight children, in the early hours on Sunday. The tragedy has left the city in shock, as families mourn the sudden loss of their loved ones.
The victims have been identified as Prahlad (70), Munni (70), Rajendar (65), Sumitra (60), Hamye (7), Abhishek (31), Sheetal (35), Priyans (4), Iraaj (2), Arushi (3), Rishabh (4), Pratham (1), Anuyan (3), Varsha (35), Pankaj (36), Rajjini (32), and Iddu (4). Their lives were cut short in a fire that rapidly engulfed the building, giving many no chance to escape.
Rescue teams managed to save 17 people trapped inside the building after a two-hour-long operation involving 17 officers and 70 personnel. However, the narrow lanes and congested surroundings of the Old City made it difficult for fire engines and equipment to reach the site quickly, prompting assistance from nearby fire stations. In the course of the operation, the fire department deployed advanced equipment including a fire robot and Bronto Skylift hydraulic platforms to aid in firefighting and rescue efforts.
While the official cause of the fire is still under investigation, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, who visited the site, stated that the blaze appeared to have been triggered by a short circuit. He emphasized the need for improving emergency response systems in rapidly urbanising cities like Hyderabad.
“The accident happened due to a short circuit. Many people have died in the accident. Some have been injured. I am not blaming anyone, but since Hyderabad is a rapidly developing city, the police, municipal, fire, and electricity departments should be strengthened,” he said.
Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar also visited the location to oversee the rescue operations and confirmed that the fire had broken out at around 6:00 am. Fire department personnel arrived within minutes, but by then, the fire had already spread extensively through the structure. Despite their swift response and efforts to rescue those inside, the intensity of the blaze left many trapped beyond saving. Former Charminar MLA and AIMIM leader Mumtaz Ahmed Khan was also present at the scene.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the tragedy in a post on X, saying he was deeply anguished by the loss of lives and offered his condolences to the affected families. He announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also reached out to Minister Prabhakar to obtain detailed updates on the situation. He personally called the bereaved families to express his condolences and directed officials to take every necessary step to support those affected by the fire. He further instructed that the injured be provided with the best possible medical care.
As the investigation continues and relief efforts proceed, the incident has raised serious concerns over fire safety, emergency access in congested urban areas, and the need to modernise civic response systems in the face of growing urban development.
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