HYDERABAD: A fire that broke out early Sunday morning at a house near Gulzar Houz, less than 100 metres from the Charminar, left 17 people dead — among them eight children, some of whom were visiting their grandparents for the summer holidays.
The fire occurred in the residence of Sri Krishna Pearls owner, Prahlad Modi, in a G+2 structure that housed the jewellery store on the ground floor and family living quarters above. Of the 21 people reportedly present in the house at the time, only four survived. Many of the deceased belonged to the same extended family, spanning three generations.
According to fire department officials, six of the victims died due to suffocation while the remaining 11 suffered fatal burn injuries. Preliminary reports suggest a short circuit at a power meter in the ground-floor pearls shop may have triggered the fire, which rapidly engulfed the structure.
Among the dead were 75-year-old Prahlad Modi, his wife Munni, their children and grandchildren. Most victims were found unconscious when fire personnel reached them. They had reportedly retreated into rooms in a desperate attempt to escape the heat and smoke.
Eyewitnesses described seeing smoke billowing from the building around 5.50 am. Some bystanders returning from morning prayers or stepping out for tea attempted rescue efforts before fire personnel arrived.
Locals also used private vehicles to rush the injured to hospitals as ambulances were delayed.
‘Layout hampered rescue efforts’
Fire Services Director General Y Nagi Reddy noted that the building’s layout hampered evacuation efforts. A single staircase, less than a metre wide and filled with smoke, served as the only access to the upper floors. The absence of alternative exits or exterior ventilation further complicated rescue efforts. Officials also said that the use of combustible wooden panelling in the house contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Locals claimed that electrical issues were frequent in the building, with short circuits reported on earlier occasions.
The Telangana Fire Services said that the first alert was received at 6.16 am. The first unit from Moghalpura reached the scene within four minutes. A total of 11 fire engines, a Bronto Skylift, and 87 personnel were deployed in operations that continued for over two hours. Firefighters used breathing apparatus sets and broke through a wall to access the first floor. Despite these efforts, most of the occupants had succumbed before they could be brought out.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka visited the site and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for each victim’s family. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy ordered an investigation into the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also conveyed their condolences.
The Sri Krishna Pearls store was established over a century ago during the Nizam era and has long been a fixture of the Charminar area. Just six days earlier, on May 13, the area had hosted contestants from the Miss World pageant — an event that brought attention to Hyderabad’s heritage zone.
