A devastating fire in Hyderabad's Gulzar Houz area near Charminar claimed the lives of 17 people, including eight children, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The blaze, which erupted in the early hours of the morning, engulfed a mixed-use building, leaving residents trapped and emergency responders struggling to gain access.
According to initial reports, the fire broke out around 5:30 AM. The fire is believed to have started due to a short circuit in a pearl shop situated on the ground floor of the building. The rapid spread of flames and thick smoke quickly filled the building, leading to suffocation for many of the occupants who were asleep at the time.
Zahid, an eyewitness who was among the first to respond to the tragedy, recounted the harrowing scene. He explained that locals rushed to the building upon hearing screams for help. "We saw two women crying, saying there was a fire and people were stuck inside," Zahid stated. He and several others didn't hesitate and broke into the building to try to rescue those trapped inside. "We could not enter the building through the main gate as it was engulfed in flames, so we broke the shutter to go inside. Then 5-6 of us broke through a wall and entered the first floor. But the whole place was completely engulfed in flames," he described.
Despite their courageous efforts, the intensity of the fire and the building's layout made rescue attempts extremely difficult. Zahid noted that the fire was mainly located at the back of the house, and tragically, there was no back door, eliminating any chance of escape for those inside. "The police and fire tenders did good work and cooperated fully. But we could not save the people because of the massive fire," Zahid lamented. He also added that all the deceased were part of the same family.
The narrow entrances and a single, confined staircase further hampered rescue operations. Firefighters had to use oxygen masks and breathing apparatus to navigate the building and attempt to reach those trapped inside. According to the Telangana Disaster Response and Fire Services, the cause of death for all 17 victims was smoke inhalation, with no reported burn injuries.
The youngest victim was identified as 1.5-year-old Prathan. Other children who perished in the fire were Hamey (7), Priyansh (4), Iraaj (2), Arushi (3), Rishabh (4), Anuyan (3), and Iddu (4).
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his shock and grief over the incident and instructed officials to provide all necessary assistance to the victims and their families. The state government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for each of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his anguish and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased, and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, along with other leaders, visited the site to assess the situation and offer support. He emphasized the need to strengthen police, municipal, fire, and electricity departments to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
