At least 17 people have lost their lives following a fire outbreak in a three-storey building in Hyderabad, southern India, early Sunday morning.
According to the AFP, the state’s Fire Disaster Response Emergency and Civil Defence Department, the blaze began around 6:00 am local time in a building that houses a jewellery store on the ground floor. The fire quickly spread to the upper levels, trapping several people.
“Firefighting, search, and rescue operations were carried out simultaneously,” the department noted in an official statement, adding that investigations into the exact cause of the incident are ongoing. The identities of the 17 victims were also listed.
Reacting to the tragedy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident. “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad, Telangana,” he said in a statement released by his office. “Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”
He also announced a compensation of 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,300) to the families of each deceased victim.
This incident adds to the growing list of deadly fires in India, which experts say are often caused by substandard building practices, overcrowding, and weak enforcement of safety codes.
Just last month, a fire outbreak at a hotel in Kolkata claimed at least 15 lives, while in 2024, 24 people were killed in a fire at an amusement park arcade in Gujarat state.
