Hyderabad, May 18: A devastating fire engulfed a two-storey building near Charminar in the Gulzar House area of Hyderabad early Saturday morning, leaving at least 17 people dead, including eight children. The blaze reportedly began around 6:16 AM, according to a statement issued by the Telangana Fire Department.
The fire, which broke out under unclear circumstances, quickly spread through the structure, trapping several occupants inside. Among the deceased were elderly residents, young adults, and several children as young as 18 months old. Those identified include Prahlad (70), Munni (70), Rajendar Modi (65), Sumitra (60), Hamey (7), Iraaj (2), Arushi (3), Rishabh (4), Pratham (1.5), Anuyan (3), Varsha (35), Pankaj (36), Sheetal (35), Priyansh (4), Rajini (32), and Iddu (4).
Officials noted that narrow lanes and limited access to the building significantly hampered rescue operations. Firefighters worked intensively for over two hours to douse the flames and evacuate those trapped. The fire department commended its personnel for their swift and determined efforts under difficult conditions.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed deep sorrow over the incident and instructed senior officials to ensure swift relief measures and support for the affected families. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and better preparedness in congested urban areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences through a message shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X (formerly Twitter). “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” he said.
The PMO further announced financial assistance for the victims’ families. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), while those injured in the incident will receive ₹50,000 each.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire as the city mourns one of its most tragic incidents in recent years.
