JOIN USMassive fire destroys British-era Secunderabad Club
A rich portion of the Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin cities' history and heritage went up in flames in the wee hours of Sunday, when a gigantic fire gutted the main edifice of the iconic Secunderabad Club.
A colonial era structure with 140 years of history and a heritage tag, the club is frequented by the who’s who of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
In the complaint to police, club's president Raghuram Reddy pegged the loss at over Rs 25 crore, while its crestfallen members rued that the cultural loss suffered is much more.
The club, established in 1878, sits on a 22-acre lush green expanse in the heart of the city and, according to a member, served as a safe, secure, comfortable hangout for its members and families, especially during the pandemic.
The engulfing fire, shocking visuals of which Hyderabadis (and Secunderabadis) woke up to on a cold, moody winter day, took over five hours and several fire tenders to be extinguished completely.
The imposing facade "Colonnade" housing the colonial style bars, elegant lounges, management committee offices is ruined.
“Our association with the club is four generations old and I have been visiting the place since when I was a kid. My favorite spot and piece – a wooden couch my (late) father Sreeram Bhoopal, a retired IAS officer, used to relax in after his lunch is also gone. It is a great loss to not only Hyderabad but the country's heritage. And this is a major personal tragedy for us,” Anuradha Reddy (73), Hyderabad chapter convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage told DH.
Fire officials said the flames spread rapidly as the ground plus two storeyed structure was mainly built of wood. A wooden staircase inside was also destroyed but the fire was stopped from spreading to other buildings in the premises.
Preliminary reason is stated as an electricity short circuit after a spell of rain on Saturday night. However, conspiracy theories are afloat like "disputes between Defense Estates and club management over addition of new structures, and an issue over widening of a road adjacent to the club."
“We have no reason, as of now, to suspect any sabotage,” M Mattaiah, inspector, Maredpally told DH.
Interestingly, the flames spread unnoticed by the club's staff till they reached the roof. Their shines, according to the inspector, were spotted over the green canopy from afar by a police patrol team on the main road which reported it at about 3:15 AM. Fire engines reached the spot at 3:30 AM.
A probe under a senior police official has been initiated, with necessary support from the electricity and fire departments.
“Several buildings in Hyderabad – from the Nizam, and the British time, were built with proper ventilation and were naturally cool even in the summers. But in the name of modernisation additions like ACs and a web of wirings are added. My observation is in general, not about the club,” said a member, not wishing to be named.
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