Firefighters Rescue 60 In Hotel Blaze
The fire control room (FCR) received an emergency call at 5.07 am. “We reached the building and took control after learning that the fire originated in the restaurant’s kitchen on the third floor and spread to the adjacent dining area.
HYDERABAD: Around 39 firefighters rescued seven staff members and evacuated another 53 after a major fire broke out on the third floor of Metropolis Hotel, Regimental Bazaar, Secunderabad, a G+7 commercial building with mixed occupancy, in the early hours of Saturday.
The fire control room (FCR) received an emergency call at 5.07 am. “We reached the building and took control after learning that the fire originated in the restaurant’s kitchen on the third floor and spread to the adjacent dining area. Staff members were escorted through the exit,” said Y. Prabhakar Reddy, commanding officer of the Assembly fire station said.
District fire officer Thagaram Venkanna led the operation and mobilised additional appliances including the hydraulic platform vehicle, and a Bronto Skylift from the Secretariat, water tenders from Gandhi Hospital outpost, a snorkel appliance, and a bowser from Secunderabad. “No one was injured. The restaurant’s sprinklers activated, preventing the fire from spreading to the dining room and other shops,” he said.
The blaze, suspected to be caused by a short circuit, was extinguished by three teams by 6.15 am. “Our firefighters faced intense heat, but successfully prevented the flames from spreading to other floors and adjoining portions of the building, averting a major disaster,” a firefighter said. Preliminary investigation suggests the fire was electrical in origin, DFO Hyderabad added.
The G+7 complex houses over 29 shops. The extent of property loss is under investigation.
In another incident, a fire broke out at Purani Haveli crossroads involving an electric transformer and adjacent temporary roadside shops. On receiving information at 7.05 am, fire teams from Salar Jung Museum fire station rushed to the spot. A water tender from Moghalpura was also called for assistance. “We brought the fire under control within 45 minutes. Except for property damage, no one was injured,” said M. Karamatatullah Baig, PRO, Fire Department.
Assistant district fire officer, Salarjung Museum, P.A. Shanmukha Rao, supervised operations. AIMIM corporators Syed Sohail Qadri (Patthergatti ward) and Alamdaar Walajahi (Noor Khan Bazar) visited the site and appreciated the prompt response and efficient firefighting.