Overview
- At the one-year mark in May 2026, police say their investigation is largely complete, yet the fire-damaged property stays sealed after JNTU structural experts found it unsafe.
- The May 2025 blaze started in the ground-floor jewellery and pearl shop, raced up the only staircase, and trapped relatives sleeping on the first floor, killing 17 including eight children.
- Survivors say they remain displaced and face delays with death certificates, ex-gratia payments, and case paperwork despite early assurances.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh per victim and the Telangana government announced ₹5 lakh per victim and a high-level probe, but the family says support has been slow to reach them.
- Officials describe persistent hazards in the old city, where narrow lanes, wall-to-wall buildings, and missing emergency exits make rescues difficult and keep the risk of deadly fires high.