A devastating fire in a four-story furniture shop in Hyderabad's Nampally area claimed the lives of five people on Saturday. The victims, who died of asphyxiation, included two young boys, ages 7 and 11, and an elderly woman. The two other victims were men in their 30s who worked at the building.

The blaze broke out in the building, trapping the five victims in the basement. According to authorities, the two men in their 30s were workers who attempted to rescue the children and the elderly woman but became trapped themselves as the flames grew. The children lived in the basement with their family, while the elderly woman, originally from Karnataka, resided in another room in the same area.

Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department Director General Vikram Singh Mann stated that the basement was being illegally used for storage and residential purposes, a clear violation of safety regulations. Furniture, raw materials, chemicals, plastics, mattresses, and foam were among the items stored in the basements. Mann also noted that the shop had not obtained the necessary clearances from the Fire Department. The ramp leading to the basements was also blocked with materials, which made access difficult for rescue personnel.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit or a discarded cigarette. Authorities have registered a criminal case against the shop owner, Satish, for violating fire safety norms. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has directed police officials to file criminal cases against the shop owner for not following fire safety guidelines.

Telangana revenue minister P. Srinivas Reddy has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each of the deceased. Minister Prabhakar expressed the government's support for the victims' families and stated that the matter has been brought to the attention of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

The incident has sparked outrage and concern over the illegal use of cellars and the storage of combustible materials in commercial premises, particularly in congested areas of the city. A complaint has been filed with the Telangana State Human Rights Commission (TSHRC), alleging negligence by civic and fire authorities and widespread violations of fire safety norms. The TSHRC has registered the matter as a case of inaction by State government officials. The complaint cited previous fire tragedies in Hyderabad, highlighting systemic failures in enforcement, inspections, and inter-departmental coordination.