17 Killed in Fire at Building Near Hyderabad's Charminar

A devastating fire broke out early Sunday morning, May 18, 2025, in a three-story building at Gulzar Houz near Hyderabad’s historic Charminar, claiming the lives of at least 17 people, including eight children under the age of 10.

The building housed a jewelry store on the ground floor and residential units above. According to Telangana Fire Services Director General Y Nagi Reddy, the blaze was likely caused by a short circuit in the electrical mains.

The fire quickly spread, and thick smoke filled the upper floors, where residents were asleep. The building had only one narrow staircase and a single exit, which was blocked by the fire, making escape and rescue efforts extremely difficult.

All 17 victims were found unconscious and later succumbed to smoke inhalation; none had burn injuries. Among the deceased were four senior citizens and five women. Tragically, one woman was found embracing her children in a final attempt to protect them from the flames.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety and building code compliance in densely populated urban areas. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent such tragedies in the future.