Hyderabad: Tragedy struck the old city of Hyderabad on Sunday morning as a fierce fire engulfed a commercial-cum-residential building at Gulzar House, situated adjacent to the iconic Charminar monument. The blaze, which erupted in the early hours, resulted in a significant loss of life, with authorities reporting at least 16 fatalities and another 10 individuals sustaining injuries.
The fire reportedly broke out around 6:00 AM on Sunday [Implied from multiple snippets]. Gulzar House, the location of the incident, is known as a bustling commercial and residential area within the historic old city of Hyderabad, in close proximity to the famed Charminar.
Expressing profound shock, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed senior officials to prioritize rescue operations and ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment. He also assured that the government would provide all necessary support to the affected families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased, as well as ₹50,000 for those injured. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the site to assess the situation and pledged the central government’s full support. Transport and Hyderabad District in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar also visited the location and indicated that a short circuit was the likely cause , stating that 17 individuals were hospitalized and an inquiry would be conducted.
While “Gulzar House” is a well-known landmark, it is important to note that Gulzar Houz itself is a historical fountain in the vicinity. The affected structure was a commercial-cum-residential building. One report identified the specific building as Srikrishna Pearls. The building is described as having a ground floor and an additional story, located in a densely packed lane within the commercial district. This kind of construction and location likely presented considerable difficulties for rescue operations.
The human cost of the fire is substantial. While initial reports indicated 16 deaths and 10 injuries, the exact figures varied across different news outlets, reflecting the developing nature of the situation. Some sources reported as many as 17 deaths, with one mentioning that this included four children. Other reports cited 8 fatalities , also noting that some children were among the deceased. A few reports mentioned 9 or even 11 deaths. The number of injured was also reported as “several” , with some specifying around 10 or more than 20. The victims reportedly suffered severe burns and injuries from smoke inhalation. The building housed approximately 30 individuals, primarily belonging to the family of a pearl trader who operated Modi Pearls on the ground floor, with their residence and those of some employees located on the first floor.
Some of the deceased have been identified as Rajendrakumar (67), Abhisekh Modee (30), Sumitra (65), Munnibai (72), Aarushi Jain (17), Seethal Jain (37), Eraj (2), and Harsly Gupata (7) , with other reports naming Priyanshi (6) and Pratham (13) among the victims.
Upon receiving a distress call around 6:30 AM (some reports indicate the fire started around 6:00 AM and the fire department arrived by 6:16 AM ), fire department officials swiftly responded to the scene. The scale of the fire necessitated the dispatch of a significant number of fire tenders. Firefighting operations continued for several hours as firefighters battled to control the blaze.
Before the arrival of the fire department, local residents and police officers initiated rescue efforts, pulling individuals from the burning building and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. It was reported that sixteen people who were trapped inside were successfully rescued. The challenging conditions, including narrow entrances to the building and the congested lanes in the area, likely hampered the rescue efforts. Specialized equipment such as an Advanced Fire Robot and a Bronto Skylift hydraulic platform was also deployed during the operation.
Initial investigations point towards a possible short circuit as the cause of the devastating fire. However, authorities have launched a detailed inquiry to definitively determine the exact cause of the incident. Following this tragedy, fire safety compliance in the area is expected to undergo intense scrutiny.
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