17 killed in large blaze near Hyderabad's Charminar
What's the story
A devastating fire broke out in a building close to the historic Charminar in Hyderabad on Sunday morning, killing at least 17 people.
The blaze erupted around 6:30am and is believed to have been triggered by a short circuit, although the exact cause remains undetermined.
Fire department officials received an emergency call at the aforementioned time and promptly arrived at the scene.
Official response
Government officials respond to Charminar fire tragedy
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy expressed his condolences over the tragic incident. He said he would take up the matter with the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek financial assistance for the victims' families.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was also shocked by this unfortunate incident. He has directed officials to intensify relief operations and ensure that those injured receive top-notch medical care.
PM's response
PM expresses grief, announces compensation for victims
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the incident in a post on X, saying, "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."
He also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF for each victim. The injured would be given ₹50,000.
Rescue operations
Rescue operations underway
Rescue teams have successfully saved between 10 to 15 people so far, authorities say. The local MLA, Mir Zulfeqar Ali, has visited the site to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts.
Union Minister and state BJP chief G. Kishan Reddy, along with Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, arrived at the location to supervise the ongoing operations. Former Charminar MLA and AIMIM leader Mumtaz Ahmed Khan was also present at the site.