A devastating fire near Charminar in Hyderabad claimed the lives of 17 individuals early Sunday morning. According to a senior police officer involved in the rescue operation, all victims died from asphyxiation, with eight sustaining burn injuries, while smoke inhalation was the leading cause of death.
The deceased included a number of elderly individuals, such as Prahlad (70), Munni (70), and Rajendar Modi (65), alongside several young children: Hamey (7), Iddu (4), Rishab (4), Priyansh (4), Anuyan (3), Arushi (3), Iraaj (2), and Pratham (1).
The fire erupted in a jewellery store adjacent to Charminar. Initial investigations indicate that the blaze started on the ground floor of the three-storey building due to a suspected short circuit. Around 70 firefighters were deployed to combat the flames, which took approximately two hours to extinguish.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president K T Rama Rao expressed his shock and sorrow regarding the tragedy, extending heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, BJP state president G Kishan Reddy criticized the response time of the fire services, suggesting that delays contributed to the high number of casualties.
Contradicting Reddy’s claims, fire officials stated that tenders arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of the fire being reported at 6:17 AM.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed his shock and ordered top officials to implement necessary measures for the rescue of those trapped. He directed that the injured be transported to nearby hospitals for immediate care and initiated conversations with relevant ministers to ensure the efficacy of the ongoing rescue efforts. The CM also conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and pledged government support.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep anguish over the tragedy, offering condolences to those affected.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hyderabad-charminar-gulzar-house-fire-live-updates-10013509/
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Publish Date: 2025-05-19 02:12:00
