Hyderabad, May 18: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire incident near Charminar in Hyderabad, which claimed the lives of 17 people, including women and children.
President Murmu conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. “The death of several people, including women and children, in a fire accident in Hyderabad is deeply distressing. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she posted on X.
Prime Minister Modi also expressed his anguish and announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured in the incident.
The fire broke out early Sunday morning at Gulzar Houz, in a G+2 building housing jewellery shops on the ground floor and residential flats above. The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, trapped residents who could not escape due to a narrow staircase. Seventeen out of 21 people inside the building were declared dead on arrival at hospitals, reportedly due to smoke inhalation.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the site. A probe has been ordered, and a case has been registered.
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu announced a ₹5 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased. He stated that the fire might have been caused by a short circuit or a gas cylinder blast. Telangana Disaster Response and Fire Services Director General Y. Nagi Reddy confirmed that all 17 deaths were due to suffocation, with no burn injuries reported.
