HYDERABAD, India, May 18: At least 17 people, including eight children and five women, lost their lives in a devastating fire that broke out early Sunday morning in a building near Hyderabad’s iconic Charminar. While the exact cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, authorities suspect it may have been triggered by a short circuit.

The fire, reported around 6:30 a.m., prompted an immediate response from emergency services. Eleven fire engines were deployed to combat the blaze, and the injured were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

According to officials, the affected building, located in the densely populated Gulzar House area, housed a jewellery shop on the ground floor and residential quarters above. The structure, like many in the area, was part of an old row of closely built commercial units with narrow access paths, complicating rescue operations.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the site and met with the victims’ families. He expressed sorrow over the incident and emphasized the need to strengthen emergency services. “I was informed that the firefighters initially lacked adequate equipment. We must invest in better technology. I will speak to the Prime Minister and request financial support for the bereaved families,” he stated.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also expressed shock at the tragedy and directed officials to ensure all possible assistance and medical care for those affected.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a message shared via the PMO on X (formerly Twitter), conveyed his condolences, describing the incident as deeply distressing. He announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured, to be provided through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar confirmed that all bodies had been recovered and moved to hospitals. He added that further details would be shared as investigations progress.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sneha Mehra noted that the building had only one entry point, making rescue operations difficult. "Firefighters had to create an alternative entry to reach those trapped inside. Most victims were found unconscious," she said, adding that the layout and structure of the area posed serious challenges during the response.

Among the deceased were four senior citizens — Prahlad, Munni, Rajender Modi, and Sumitra — as well as children as young as one year old. The children who perished include Hamey (7), Priyansh (4), Iraaj (2), Arushi (3), Rishabh (4), Pratham (1), Anuyan (3), and Iddu (4). Other victims have been identified as Abhishek, Sheetal, Varsha, Pankaj, and Rajini.

Rajya Sabha MP M. Anil Kumar Yadav praised the efforts of the emergency teams and said rescue operations were still ongoing. “This is a marketplace with old constructions. Firefighters and other departments did their best under difficult conditions,” he told NDTV.

The incident has renewed concerns about fire safety and enforcement of building regulations in older urban areas, where crowded structures and poor infrastructure often hinder emergency responses. Fires of this nature remain alarmingly common in India due to frequent violations of safety norms. Further investigations are underway.