Key Points

• Seventeen people died from smoke inhalation in a major fire at Gulzar House, near Charminar, Hyderabad.
• The blaze started around 5:30 am due to a short circuit in a ground-floor jewelry shop.
• Out of 21 people in the building, only four survived.
• Lack of emergency exits and building design severely hampered rescue efforts.
• This is the second major fire in Hyderabad’s Old City in four days.

Hyderabad: A devastating fire in the early hours of Sunday morning at Gulzar House, near the iconic Charminar in Hyderabad, has claimed the lives of 17 people. The tragedy unfolded when a blaze, triggered by a suspected short circuit, rapidly engulfed a multi-storey building, trapping residents inside and exposing critical lapses in fire safety.

How the Fire Started

According to Telangana Disaster Response and Fire Services Director General Y Nagi Reddy, the fire broke out at approximately 5:30 am, when most residents were still asleep. The source was traced to a short circuit in the Krishna Pearls jewelry shop on the ground floor of the G2 building at Gulzar House. Within minutes, thick smoke filled the building, making escape nearly impossible for those inside.

Cause of Death: Smoke, Not Flames

DG Y Nagi Reddy clarified that the fatalities were not due to burns, but rather suffocation from smoke inhalation. Out of the 21 people inside the building at the time, only four managed to escape. The remaining 17 succumbed to the toxic smoke, highlighting the deadly dangers of inadequate ventilation and emergency exits in residential and commercial buildings.

Rescue Operations: A Race Against Time

The fire department received the first alert at 6:16 am and responded within a minute, dispatching 11 fire tenders and 70 firefighters from multiple stations including Langar House, Mogalpura, Gowliguda, Rajendra Nagar, Gandhi Chowki, and Salarjung Museum. Specialized equipment such as two rescue tenders, a Bronto skylift, three water tenders, and a firefighting robot were deployed.

Despite the rapid response, the lack of an emergency exit at the rear of the building made rescue operations extremely challenging. Firefighters used breathing apparatus and oxygen masks, but the building’s structure hindered their access to trapped residents. The fire was finally brought under control by 9 am, but by then, the loss was immense.

Recent Pattern: Second Major Fire in Four Days

This incident comes just four days after another significant fire in Begum Bazaar, only 2 km away, where eight people narrowly escaped. The back-to-back tragedies have raised urgent questions about fire safety compliance and the enforcement of building codes in Hyderabad’s densely populated Old City.

Aftermath and Investigation

Authorities are now investigating the building’s compliance with fire safety regulations. The absence of emergency exits and apparent lack of preparedness have sparked outrage among locals and calls for stricter enforcement of safety norms.

The Gulzar House fire stands as a grim reminder of the catastrophic consequences of ignoring fire safety. As Hyderabad mourns the loss of 17 lives, officials and citizens alike are demanding accountability and urgent reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.