Hyderabad: Eight children among 17 killed in massive fire near Charminar

As many as 17 people, including eight children under the age of 10, lost their lives in a massive fire that broke out at a building in Gulzar House near the iconic Charminar on Sunday.

A preliminary examination revealed that the fire was caused due to a a short circuit, Telangana Disaster Response and Fire Services DG, Y Nagi Reddy, said.

The cause of death of all the 17 people was smoke inhalation, "nobody had burn injuries," Reddy added.


"There was a fire incident in Krishna Pearls shop and the residential complex in Gulzar House area. The Fire department received the call at 6:16 am and dispatched 11 fire engines with sufficient staff by 6:17 am... The fire department used breathing operators and oxygen masks to rescue the people... The information is that 17 people could not survive... The preliminary examination shows that the cause was a short circuit..." the fire services DG said.

"There was no deficiency in the fire department fighting the fire and rescuing the people... The building had only one entryway of two metres, like a tunnel. There is only one staircase of one metre to access the first and second floors. This made the escape and rescue operation very difficult. By 9 am, the fire was under control... A total of 21 people were inside the building... The cause of death is smoke inhalation; nobody had burn injuries," the fire official said.

Earlier, several people were found unconscious and were shifted to various hospitals.

Hyderabad Fire Accident

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the incident and instructed senior officials to take necessary measures to rescue those trapped in the building.

After visiting the site, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy told media: "Police informed that eight people are dead in the fire accident. But the figure has to be confirmed by them only." Some children are among the dead, he said.

An AIMIM legislator at the spot told said about 20 people were taken to hospitals, according to early reports from the officials.

An official release from the CMO said directions were issued to immediately shift the injured to hospitals and ensure proper medical treatment.

PM Modi said he was "deeply anguished" by the loss of lives in the fire and announced an ex gratia, of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 50,000 to those injured in the mishap, from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the kin of the deceased as per the Prime Minister's Office.

An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."

A total of 11 fire engines were dispatched to the spot to bring the blaze under control.

(With inputs from agencies)