In the early hours of Sunday, residents of the densely populated Charminar area in Hyderabad’s Old City woke up to the overwhelming smell of smoke. A fire had broken out in a three-story building in the Gulzar Houz area, claiming the lives of 17 people, including eight children from a single family.
The fire broke out around 6:16 a.m., with the first emergency call placed to the fire department promptly. However, eyewitnesses claimed that the fire must have been raging for some time before it became apparent to those outside the building. Local resident Zubhan, a small retailer, recalled the eerie silence as firefighters searched for survivors. “There were no calls for help, only the crackling of flames,” he said, describing the haunting scene.
Residents reported that the fire was already raging on the first floor when fire engines arrived at the scene. The rescue operation faced major obstacles, particularly due to the narrow and smoke-filled staircase, which hindered the ability to access upper floors. “There was no alternate exit, and the ground floor entrance was blocked by bikes, which added to the flames,” said Y. Nagi Reddy, Director General of Fire Safety.
The advanced fire-fighting technology, including a Skylift hydraulic platform and an Advanced Fire Robot, was brought in to douse the flames. However, the rescuers discovered more horrific details within the building. “Firefighters reported finding bodies in every room on the upper floors. In one room, a mother and her two children were trapped,” said Zubhan, a witness to the scene.
The fire is believed to have started on the ground floor, which housed a closed jewelry store. Preliminary findings suggest that a short circuit might have sparked the blaze around 3-4 a.m., which then quickly spread to the family’s living space on the first floor.
