Gulzar House fire: Multi-department probe ordered, forensic analysis underway

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government has launched a multi-agency investigation into the deadly fire that claimed 17 lives in the Gulzar House building near Charminar on Sunday.

The probe will involve five departments, including fire services and police, State transport minister and Hyderabad in-charge Ponnam Prabhakar announced on Monday.

Officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), fire department, police, revenue department, and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) have been tasked with jointly investigating the cause of the blaze and submitting a detailed report to the government.

The building lacked basic fire safety infrastructure

Sunday’s fire, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, engulfed a multi-storey building at Gulzar Houz, killing 17 people—including eight children—all part of a jeweller’s extended family. The building, like many in the congested Charminar area, reportedly lacked basic fire safety infrastructure.

The incident has once again spotlighted the urgent need for stricter enforcement of building safety regulations and fire preparedness in Hyderabad’s densely populated Old City.

Minister Prabhakar stated that a preliminary report has already been submitted and a comprehensive on-site inspection is scheduled. “The joint team is expected to visit the building today and provide a full account of the incident,” he said.

Many buildings in Old City are a century old

The government is also considering preventive measures to reduce fire risks in the Old City, where many structures are over a century old. “We will work with local public representatives to encourage residents of older buildings to install fire safety systems to protect lives,” the minister added.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) is also expected to conduct a site investigation, while police have registered a case of fire accident. Further steps will be based on forensic findings, a senior police officer said, on condition of anonymity.