A devastating fire in the early hours of Sunday, May 18, shattered the peace of Hyderabad’s Old City, claiming the lives of at least 17 people in a building located near Gulzar Houz, close to the historic Charminar. The victims included women and children, many of whom were trapped in their home as thick smoke and flames engulfed the narrow structure.
The fire, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, broke out around 6:30 a.m. According to officials, the building had only two narrow entrances—one leading to a residence on the first floor and another to a small commercial space. The confined layout turned into a death trap, severely limiting chances of escape. Firefighters, who rushed to the scene with 11 fire tenders, had to wear oxygen masks to carry out rescue operations. Sadly, by the time the flames were brought under control two hours later, many lives had already been lost.
Witnesses described heart-wrenching scenes as men returning from morning prayers became first responders, breaking walls with bare hands to reach those inside. “We saw women crying outside, saying people were stuck. We broke walls to get in,” recounted one man who helped in the rescue efforts. What he found will remain etched in his memory forever—a mother found lifeless, clutching several children.
As the smoke cleared, grief settled over the city. Osmania General Hospital, where the victims’ bodies were taken, became a scene of anguish and heartbreak. Families wept and clung to each other outside the mortuary, grappling with the sudden and cruel loss.
Leaders across the nation expressed their condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his sorrow, announcing ₹2 lakh compensation for each victim’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured. “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad… May the injured recover soon,” he posted.
President Droupadi Murmu called the incident “deeply distressing” and offered her prayers for the injured. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma described the event as “heart-wrenching” and urged authorities to provide all necessary assistance.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited the site and directed officials to ensure prompt rescue and medical aid. Telangana’s Deputy Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for each of the deceased. A high-level meeting has been planned to discuss fire safety reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, who also visited the site, noted that the family had been living there for generations—more than 125 years. His words underscored the historical and emotional weight of the loss.
This horrifying incident is not just a reminder of human vulnerability in the face of disaster, but also a call for urgent infrastructure and safety reforms in the densely populated lanes of old Hyderabad. As the city mourns, one can only hope that this tragedy leads to lasting change—so that such grief need not be repeated.