Hyderabad Shop Fire: 5 Dead Including 2 Children; Govt Offers Rs 5 Lakh Compensation
Hyderabad furniture store fire death toll rises to 5, including 2 children.
A devastating fire at a furniture store near Nampally Railway Station in Hyderabad claimed five lives on Saturday, leaving families in shock and mourning. Rescue teams retrieved the bodies from the basement of the four-storey building, which was densely packed with furniture and chemicals, complicating firefighting efforts.
The deceased were identified as Mohammed Imtiyaz (27), a store worker; Syed Habeeb (28), an auto trolley driver; Beban Bee (55); and two children, Akhil (11) and Praneet (7), sons of watchman Yadaiah. Preliminary investigations suggest that Imtiyaz and Habeeb had entered the cellar in an attempt to save the others but were tragically trapped.
The Telangana government announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for each family of the deceased. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy expressed condolences and assured full support for the families, attributing the tragedy to negligence by the store owner in storing furniture in the basement without fire safety clearance.
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Firefighters brought the blaze under control after nearly eight hours, employing skylifts and robots, but thick smoke and the hazardous materials in the basement hampered rescue operations. Even 24 hours later, smoke continued to billow from the site, highlighting the intensity of the fire.
Authorities revealed that the store owner allegedly used the basement illegally for storage, violating fire safety regulations. The fire is believed to have been triggered either by a short circuit or a cigarette. A criminal case is expected to be filed against the owner, with strict legal action pending.
Engineering experts from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) inspected the building, expressing concerns over its structural stability after the fire. The authorities are currently reviewing the report to decide whether the damaged structure should be demolished to prevent further hazards.
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