Hyderabad: CM Revanth orders thorough probe into Gulzar House inferno

Hyderabad: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has ordered a thorough probe into the tragic fire accident at Gulzar House. As many as 17 people lost their lives, while more than 20 sustained injuries in a devastating fire that broke out at Gulzar House near Charminar early Sunday morning

The Chief Minister stressed that preventive measures should be taken to prevent such fire accidents in the future and awareness should also be created among people. The CM expressed grief and condolences over the death of 17 people in the fire mishap. He also conveyed sympathies to the bereaved families and assured them of full support from the state government

Soon after receiving information about the fire accident, Revanth Reddy called up the Fire Service department and police officials and closely monitored the rescue operations. In addition to expediting the rescue operations, the CM asked the ministers who are available in the city and officials to rush immediately to the incident spot to provide better medical treatment to the victims.

He inquired with Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and IG Nagi Reddy about the health condition of the injured and instructed them to shift the injured to the nearby hospitals for better medical treatment. The CM also spoke to the families of the victims on the phone and expressed deep sympathies for the loss of their family members. Assuring them of full support, the government has already announced an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the families of the deceased.

CM Revanth Reddy commended the Fire services authorities for their prompt response and averted heavy loss of lives in the fire incident. The fire personnel rescued about 50 people from the house which was engulfed with fire, the Chief Ninister said that the team of the Fire services wing showed their strength and saved those trapped in the fire.

A total of 11 vehicles, a Fire Fighting Robot, 17 Fire officers and 70 personnel were involved in extinguishing the fire and rescuing trapped persons. It took a total of two hours to extinguish the fire. The officers and personnel worked hard to rescue the trapped persons, extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading.

Advanced Fire Robot and Bronto Skylift hydraulic platform were also used in the operations. The suspected cause of the fire is under investigation. The value of the property damaged is yet to be ascertained," according to a statement issued by Telangana Fire Disaster Response Emergency and Civil Defence.

Challenges faced during the firefighting and rescue operations by fire fighters:

* Only one staircase is available for upper floors which is less than 1m wide and is centrally located inside the building.

* The only existing staircase is near to supposed seat of fire due to which the stairwell was completely filled with smoke and excessive heat.

* No alternate exit staircase/path to the upper floors.

* The only access in the ground floor was completely filled with bikes blocking the same which also provided enough fuel to the Fire.

* Fire started in ground floor, smoke and heat quickly reached upper floors blocking the only available access to upper floors.

* No Windows/Doors facing the available road to use hydraulic platform and quick ventilation.

* To save time and to rescue trapped persons quickly, while firefighting was going on in the ground floor, TGFD had to drill hole in a wall in the first floor to enter and start rescue and fire fighting operations on the first floor.