Hyderabad, May 18, ( Ot webdesk) – A massive fire engulfed a building in Hyderabad’s Gulzar House early Sunday morning, resulting in the loss of 17 lives.
The blaze, which broke out around 6 a.m., quickly spread, making rescue efforts exceedingly difficult despite the prompt response from firefighters.
Eleven fire engines were dispatched to combat the flames, but the intensity of the fire left little room for successful rescue attempts.
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the incident, and officials have pledged to enhance fire safety protocols to prevent future tragedies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, offering condolences to grieving families.
He also announced financial assistance—₹2 lakh for the kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured—from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Senior officials, including Telangana’s Director General of Police Dr. Jitender, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, and Charminar MLA Mir Zulfeqar Ali, visited the scene to oversee relief operations.
Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar assured complete government support to the victims’ families and emphasised the need for a comprehensive review of fire safety measures in the state.
BRS President K.T. Rama Rao also conveyed his condolences, calling the incident “extremely shocking and painful” while offering assistance.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the cause of the tragedy.
