A tragic fire broke out early Saturday morning in a commercial-residential building near Hyderabad’s iconic Charminar, claiming at least 17 lives, including a 7-year-old girl and several women. The cause is suspected to be a short circuit, although official confirmation is still pending.
The fire, which erupted in the densely packed Gulzar House area—known for its century-old jewellery shops—was reported around 6:30 am. Eleven fire engines were rushed to the scene and battled the flames for hours. Injured victims were immediately transported to nearby hospitals.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy visited the site and met with affected families. “Such incidents are deeply saddening. I won’t blame anyone at this point, but we must strengthen our fire, police, electricity, and municipal systems. Reports suggest firefighters initially lacked proper equipment,” he stated. He also promised to advocate for central assistance.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed shock and directed officials to ramp up relief operations and provide the best medical care to the injured. State Minister Ponnam Prabhakar confirmed that all bodies were retrieved and said more information would be shared shortly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a statement posted on X, the PMO announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia to the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Congress Rajya Sabha MP M Anil Kumar Yadav commended the rescue workers. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy. The area is a busy market, but the firefighting teams responded with dedication. The blaze is now under control,” he said.
The tightly packed shops and homes in the area, many sharing walls, may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Investigations are ongoing.
