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.

The committee will comprise GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan, Hyderabad collector – Anudeep Durishetty, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, – CV Anand, DG Fire Services – Y Nagi Reddy, HYDRAA Commissioner – AV Ranganath and TGSPDCL CMD – Md Musharraf Faruqui.

The officials have been tasked with jointly investigating the cause of the blaze and submitting a detailed report to the government. The committee is expected to visit the spot on Wednesday and inspect the premises.

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.

TGHRC seeks reports on Hyderabad fire accident

The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) on Monday directed officials concerned to submit detailed reports in connection with the devastating fire in a building here that left 17 people dead.

A blaze triggered in a building at Gulzar House near the iconic Charminar here on May 18 killed 17 people, including eight children, belonging to an extended family of a jeweller.

According to an official release, the panel on its own took cognisance of the tragic fire accident, based on media reports, indicating possible negligence in building safety, electrical maintenance, and fire preparedness and directed the Chief Secretary, Commissioner of Police, Director General Fire Disaster Response Emergency and Civil Defence and the Chief Engineer, Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana (TGSPDCL) to submit detailed reports by June 30.

The Commission is committed to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the right to life and safety of citizens, it said.