A devastating fire erupted in a building near the iconic Charminar in Hyderabad’s Old City. The fire erupted this morning, claiming the lives of at least 17 people. The deceased also included a seven-year-old girl and several women.

According to reports, the cause of the massive blaze is currently under investigation. However, the Police suspect that a short circuit might be the reason behind the blaze. The rescue operations are ongoing on a large scale. Simultaneously, the authorities are working to rescue all individuals who may have been still trapped inside the building or the debris.

Victims Identified

So far the identified deceased are as follows:

1. Abhisekh Modi (30)

2. Rajender Kumar (67)

3. Munnibhai (72)

4. Sumitra (65)

5. Iraj (2 years)

6. Arushi Jain (17)

7. Harshali Gupta (7 years)

8. Sheetaj Jain (37)

(Further names are awaited as identification processes continue)

Swift Response but Extensive Damage

Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, stated that the fire broke out around 6:00 am in the morning. She claimed that the Telangana Fire Department arrived at the scene as soon as possible by 6:16 am. Prabhakar also said that despite the fire department’s rapid response, the fire had already spread significantly.

She also said the bodies have been recovered and sent to hospitals and that the state government will share full information soon as the identification process continues. According to reports the fire was so massive that it spread across the building rapidly trapping people inside and resulting in the tragic loss of 17 lives. The firefighters managed to rescue around 10 to 15 people from the building.

Political Leaders Express Grief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep anguish over the tragedy on X. The PMO in a post on X wrote, “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000”.

Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 18, 2025

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, along with Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and former Charminar MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, visited the site. The visit was to oversee rescue operations and assess the situation.

Reddy said, “The fire broke out in a pearl shop owned by a family. The accident happened due to a short circuit. Many people have died in the accident. Some have been injured. I am not blaming anyone, but since Hyderabad is a rapidly developing city, the police, municipal, fire, and electricity departments should be strengthened.”

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has spoken with Minister Ponnam Prabhakar for detailed updates on the inciden. The CM also extended his condolences to the victims’ families. He has directed officials to intensify relief efforts and ensure the best possible medical treatment for those injured in the tragedy.

Challenges in Rescue Operations

In addition, the Deputy Commissioner of Police Sneha Mehra highlighted the challenges faced by rescue teams. This was due to the building’s structure, which had only one initial entry point. The firefighters had to create another entry to gain access inside the building. She also noted that the area consists of old establishments with some new constructions and is characterized by narrow pathways.

Reports suggest that the area where the incident occurred has a row of jewellery shops, The building is very close to the iconic Charminar historical monument of Hyderabad. he affected area near Gulzar House is known for its numerous century-old jewellery shops situated close to each other. Authorities have confirmed that an investigation into the matter is underway.