Hyderabad fire tragedy: Building's structural layout posed significant challenges for rescue teams

Hyderabad: The building's structural layout posed significant challenges for rescue teams in the fire accident that claimed 17 lives in Gulzar Houz area of old city in Hyderabad on Sunday morning.

Located in the Gilzar Houz area, the affected structure was accessible only through a tunnel-like passage with extremely narrow stairs, critically impeding evacuation efforts. Rescue teams were forced to cut through a wall to create a ventilation hole to release the thick smoke that had engulfed the building.

The building's entrance was very narrow with only two metre width, and the single staircase, measuring just one meter in width, hindered the fire rescue teams efforts to reach those trapped inside. The lack of multiple entry and exit points also made it challenging for the occupants to escape.

Fire personnel responded swiftly, arriving at the scene within three minutes of receiving the emergency alert. As flames rapidly spread from the ground floor to the upper levels, firefighters had to break through walls to reach those trapped inside. By the time rescuers gained access, many victims had already lost consciousness due to severe smoke inhalation.

During the operation, one firefighter fell seriously ill while battling the blaze and is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

"Due to the access constraints and to expedite search and rescue operations, we called for additional support from other fire stations. A total of 12 fire appliances were deployed to the site," explained Telangana Fire and Disaster Response Director General Y Nagi Reddy.

"The operation involved 11 vehicles, one Fire Fighting Robot, 17 fire officers, and 70 personnel working tirelessly to extinguish the fire and rescue trapped individuals. It took approximately two hours to fully extinguish the blaze. Our teams worked diligently to rescue trapped persons, contain the fire, and prevent it from spreading further. Advanced equipment, including a Fire Robot and Bronto Skylift hydraulic platform, was crucial to our response. The suspected cause of the fire remains under investigation, and we are still assessing the total value of property damaged," he said.

The first responders included local residents who rushed to the scene after hearing screams from women nearby. These civilians attempted to help several trapped individuals by lowering them from the opposite side of the building.

The incident highlighted the persistent challenges posed by the architectural characteristics of Hyderabad's old city, particularly around the historic Charminar area. The narrow lanes and congested streets that define this area are a result of centuries of historical development, with buildings constructed in close proximity to one another.

The area's high population density contributes to the compact housing arrangements, while the road network remains notoriously narrow and difficult to navigate factors that significantly complicated Sunday's emergency response.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X, stating, "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."

The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased victim, while those injured in the incident will receive Rs 50,000 in financial assistance.