A devastating fire in a Nampally furniture shop killed five people, including two children and an elderly woman. Thick smoke and blocked basement access hindered rescue efforts. Authorities have launched a criminal probe into fire safety violations.
Five people were killed after they got trapped in the basement of the shop
Hyderabad: Five people, including two children and an elderly woman, died after a fire engulfed a four-storey furniture shop building in Nampally, Hyderabad, officials said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday, prompting rescue teams to rush to the site to save those trapped in the building’s basement.
“Five bodies, including two boys and an elderly woman, were retrieved from the cellar of the building today,” a senior police official told media. Initial reports suggest the victims died due to asphyxiation, although the exact cause will be determined after post-mortem examinations.
Viral: Hyderabad doctor on alarming rise in diseases due to ‘swiggy-zomato culture’
Authorities have registered a case against the shop owner, and the exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department Director General Vikram Singh Mann said the basements stored furniture, raw materials, chemicals, plastics, mattresses, and foam.
He added that a security guard and his family were also residing in the cellar, which was officially meant only for parking. The trapped individuals included family members of the security guard and other workers.
Rescue operations began Saturday afternoon and involved multiple agencies, including the fire department, police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA).
Although the fire was eventually brought under control, thick smoke and blocked ramps leading to the basement hampered access for rescue teams, officials said.
Viral: Hyderabad doctor on alarming rise in diseases due to ‘swiggy-zomato culture’
Expressing shock over the tragedy, Transport and Hyderabad District In-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar assured that the government would support the families of the victims. He also directed police officials to file criminal cases against the shop owner for allegedly failing to follow fire safety guidelines.
The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety compliance in commercial buildings, especially those storing flammable materials in residential or improperly designated areas. Authorities have urged shop owners and residents to strictly follow fire safety norms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
