Hyderabad fire: Staircase filled with smoke blocked escape

IANS May 18, 2025 259 views

A deadly fire near Hyderabad's historic Charminar claimed 17 lives, exposing critical building safety failures. The single, narrow staircase became a death trap when filled with smoke and heat, preventing escape. Eight children and five women were among those who perished in the ground floor pearl shop building. Fire officials conducted a complex rescue operation, using innovative methods like drilling walls to save trapped individuals.

"The only access on the ground floor was completely filled with bikes blocking the same" - Y. Nagi Reddy, Fire Services Director General
Hyderabad fire: Staircase filled with smoke blocked escape
Hyderabad, May 18: The building that caught fire near historic Charminar here on Sunday, resulting in the death of 17 people, had only one staircase, which was filled with smoke, blocking the escape for the victims, a top official said.

Key Points

1

Narrow single staircase blocked by smoke prevented victim escape

2

Eight children and five women among 17 fatalities

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Fire started on ground floor with pearl/jewelry shops

Since the fire started on the ground floor, smoke and heat quickly reached upper floors, blocking the only available access, which was just one metre wide, the official said.

The narrow staircase is centrally located inside the building. It was near to supposed seat of fire due to which the stairwell was completely filled with smoke and excessive heat.

"The only access on the ground floor was completely filled with bikes blocking the same, and also provided enough fuel to the fire," Telangana State Fire Services, Disaster Response, Emergency, and Civil Defence Director General Y. Nagi Reddy said.

The official stated that there were no windows/doors facing the available road to use the hydraulic platform and quick ventilation. To save time and to rescue trapped persons quickly, while firefighting was going on on the ground floor, firefighters had to drill a hole in a wall on the first floor to enter and start rescue and firefighting operations.

Eight children and five women were among 17 people killed in the fire, which broke out in the building in Gulzar Houz. The building had pearls/jewellery shops on the ground floor, while a few families were residing on the first and second floors.

According to Nagi Reddy, a fire call was received at 6.16 p.m. and a water tender from Moghalpura reached the fire ground at 6.20 a.m.

District Fire Officer-1 Hyderabad Venkanna got injured during the firefighting operation and was admitted to the hospital. A total of 11 fire engines were used. A fire robot was brought, but could not be used due to the situation on the ground.

Seventeen fire officers and 70 personnel participated in the operation. Eight personnel wore Breathing Apparatus (BA) sets and rescued 17 persons.

Four people were rescued from the terrace using two ladders. One ladder from the second terrace to the first terrace and another from the first terrace to the ground.

Nagi Reddy came out with details of the firefighting operations, apparently to counter Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy’s claim that there was a delay on the part of the Fire Services Department in responding to the situation and that personnel lacked equipment and gear to rescue the trapped people.

Personnel from the fire services, police, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and the Health and Revenue departments participated in the rescue and relief.

Nagi Reddy stated that because of the timely response and action by the Fire Department, the spread of fire to adjacent properties was prevented and further loss of lives and property was averted.

The suspected cause of the fire is under investigation, the official added.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
This is heartbreaking 💔. How can buildings in such prime locations have only one staircase? Our fire safety norms need strict implementation. Those poor children and women had no chance with bikes blocking the exit. Authorities must conduct surprise checks in all commercial-residential buildings.
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Priya M.
The firefighters are real heroes here! Reaching in just 4 minutes and rescuing people despite such dangerous conditions. But why wasn't the fire robot usable? We invest in technology but fail in basic infrastructure. Old city areas need urgent safety upgrades.
A
Arjun S.
Typical negligence by building owners - converting every inch to shops without safety considerations. The ground floor full of flammable pearls/jewelry and bikes parked carelessly! This was a disaster waiting to happen. Municipal corporation must take strict action against such violations.
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Sunita R.
My heart goes out to the families 😢. We need better urban planning in heritage areas like Charminar. These old buildings weren't designed for modern commercial use. Fire drills and public awareness about emergency exits are equally important. Just having rules isn't enough.
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Vikram J.
While the fire department did their best, this tragedy exposes multiple failures - narrow staircases, blocked exits, no proper ventilation. We need a special task force for fire safety in mixed-use buildings. Also, why no sprinkler systems in jewelry shops? Cost-cutting can't come at the price of lives.
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Neha P.
The narrow 1-meter staircase is criminal! Builders and officials who approve such designs must be held accountable. In my society, we recently conducted a fire safety audit after a similar incident in Mumbai. Every residential-commercial complex should do this regularly. Prevention is better than regret.

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Tags:
Hyderabad Fire Charminar Incident Building Safety Y. Nagi Reddy Fire Rescue Operation
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