‘Layout hampered rescue efforts’
Fire Services Director General Y Nagi Reddy noted that the building’s layout hampered evacuation efforts. A single staircase, less than a metre wide and filled with smoke, served as the only access to the upper floors. The absence of alternative exits or exterior ventilation further complicated rescue efforts. Officials also said that the use of combustible wooden panelling in the house contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Locals claimed that electrical issues were frequent in the building, with short circuits reported on earlier occasions.
The Telangana Fire Services said that the first alert was received at 6.16 am. The first unit from Moghalpura reached the scene within four minutes. A total of 11 fire engines, a Bronto Skylift, and 87 personnel were deployed in operations that continued for over two hours. Firefighters used breathing apparatus sets and broke through a wall to access the first floor. Despite these efforts, most of the occupants had succumbed before they could be brought out.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka visited the site and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for each victim’s family. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy ordered an investigation into the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also conveyed their condolences.
The Sri Krishna Pearls store was established over a century ago during the Nizam era and has long been a fixture of the Charminar area. Just six days earlier, on May 13, the area had hosted contestants from the Miss World pageant — an event that brought attention to Hyderabad’s heritage zone.
