Overview

• A fire broke out early Sunday morning in a three-storey building near Charminar, Hyderabad, killing 17 people, including eight children, from an extended family.
• Preliminary investigations indicate the fire was caused by a short circuit on the ground floor, which quickly spread through the building's wooden interiors.
• The building's single narrow staircase and blocked exits trapped residents, with most victims succumbing to smoke inhalation rather than burns.
• The Telangana government has announced ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh for the deceased, and the Prime Minister has pledged ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF for each victim's family.
• A multi-departmental inquiry involving GHMC, fire, police, revenue, and HYDRAA has been ordered to investigate the incident and propose preventive measures for similar aging structures.