Islamabad, May 19, 2025: In a tragic incident, at least 17 people died after a fire started at a building in the Indian city of Hyderabad, local officials said on Sunday.
In the early hours of the day, a large blaze broke out in a three-storey building which houses a jewellery store.
A statement from the fire disaster response emergency and civil defence department in southern Telangana state they had received the call for help just after 6am local time.
“The fire broke out on the ground floor and spread to the upper floors. Firefighting, search & rescue operations were carried out simultaneously,” it said.
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The statement also included the names of 17 people who died..
“The suspected cause of the fire is under investigation,” it said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced his “deep grief” over the loss of life and declared a compensation of 200,000 rupees for the family of each victim.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad, Telangana,” Modi said in a statement released by his office.
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“Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”
Fires are common in India largely due to poor building construction, overcrowded conditions and failure to comply with safety regulations.
Just last month, a fierce fire erupted in a Kolkata hotel, killing at least 15 people. And in another tragic incident, at least 24 people died after a fire broke out at a packed amusement park arcade in Gujarat.
