At least 17 people lost their lives and many others were injured after a devastating fire swept through a residential building in Hyderabad’s Gulzar House area, near the iconic Charminar, on Sunday morning, officials confirmed.
The blaze erupted around 6:00 a.m., and firefighters arrived at the scene by 6:16 a.m., according to local government minister Ponnam Prabhakar. “Firefighters did their best to rescue those trapped inside, but the flames had already engulfed the entire structure,” he told reporters.
Authorities said most victims were likely killed in their sleep, as the fire spread rapidly through the building. Efforts to fully extinguish the fire are still ongoing.
Initial investigations suggest the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit, though a full probe is underway.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life and announced financial compensation for the victims’ families.
Fires in Indian residential buildings are often exacerbated by lax adherence to safety regulations and the unsafe storage of flammable materials, officials noted.
