Hyderabad fire updates: At least 17 killed in fire at a building in Gulzar Houz near Charminar
Several people were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a building in Gulzar Houz near the historic Charminar on Sunday (May 18, 2025)
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According to a Fire department official, they received a call at around 6.30 am and rushed to the spot. Several people were found unconscious and shifted to various hospitals. Two too narrow entrances, one to the first floor home and another wider one to the enclosed shopping space led to the disastrously high toll.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the incident and directed senior officials to take all necessary measures to rescue those trapped in the building.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday (May 18) said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the fire at Gulzar House near Charminar in Hyderabad, Telangana. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured,” he said.
For the 17 people who perished in a blaze near the historic Charminar in Hyderabad on May 18, the house located in a tunnel-like alley with a narrow entrance and staircase proved to be a death trap as it prevented them from escaping to safety.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi told reporters that the family has been residing there for 125 years, indicating that generations have been living there for over a century.
It took two hours and as many as 11 fire tenders to douse the fire, Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Director General Y. Nagi Reddy said, adding that rescue personnel had to wear oxygen masks to enter the blazing house.
“The entrance of the building, which is narrow, was engulfed with fire and smoke and the access to the first floor through the staircase was only one meter, due to which the occupants were unable to escape. The building had only one entry of two metres, which is like a tunnel,” Mr. Reddy said
President Droupadi Murmu on May 18 condoled the loss of lives in the fire accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The death of several people, including women and children, in a fire accident in Hyderabad is deeply distressing. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Ms. Murmu said in a post on X
Telangana Cabinet Ministers, senior officials, and Miss World 2025 contestants observed a moment of silence at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat to pay tribute to the victims of the fire tragedy near Gulzar Houz in Hyderabad.
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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday spoke with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy after the horrific blaze in Hyderabad that claimed 17 lives and said he is assured that the government is taking all necessary relief measures, including providing speedy and adequate compensation to those affected.
Mr. Kharge also urged Congress workers to rally around the affected families and offer any assistance they can.
“I am deeply saddened by the devastating fire tragedy in the Charminar area of Hyderabad, which has claimed several precious lives. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims during this difficult time,” Mr. Kharge said.
