Hyderabad witnessed a heartbreaking tragedy near Charminar in the Old City, where a massive fire claimed the lives of 17 people, including 8 children. The incident happened at Gulzar Houz, and investigations have revealed that it was not caused by an electrical short circuit, but by a blast in an air conditioner compressor.
Officials believe that the fire began due to illegal electricity tapping from high-tension lines by locals. This caused an unusually high load on the electric meter, leading to a spark in the meter box. The fire then spread to a nearby wooden panel, which caught flames quickly. From there, it reached the AC compressor, triggering an explosion and a fast-moving blaze.
The fire started in one of the four shops located on the ground floor of a 120-year-old building. One of the stores was undergoing wood paneling work, which may have added fuel to the fire. The flames rapidly moved up to the first floor, where people were trapped.
According to Telangana Fire Department Director General Y Nagi Reddy, the structure of the building made rescue efforts extremely difficult. The building had only one narrow entrance and a single staircase, less than 1 meter wide, located in the center. There was no alternate exit. To make matters worse, motorbikes were parked near the entrance, blocking the path and adding fuel to the fire.
Firefighters had to act fast. While battling the blaze on the ground floor, they drilled a hole in a first-floor wall to reach those trapped inside. Despite their efforts, 17 lives were lost—9 adults and 8 children.
None of the shops had fire extinguishers, and the old building's poor ventilation made the situation worse. The intense heat and lack of air flow created a deadly trap inside.
Officials have registered an FIR and launched a full investigation. Both local police and fire officials are collecting evidence and speaking with the victims’ families to understand more about what happened. A full assessment of the damaged shops is also underway to evaluate the stored materials.
This devastating fire highlights the urgent need for building safety checks, especially in older structures, and strict action against illegal electricity connections.
