A Year After, Hyderabad Remains Oblivious to Fire Safety

Hyderabad: A year ago, cries for help from a smoke-filled home near Charminar shook Hyderabad. Within moments, the joyful home of a family at Gulzar Houz turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy. Seventeen innocent lives from three generations of the family were lost.

Among them was Pankaj Modi, who stepped out briefly to seek help but, hearing the cries of his wife and children trapped inside, rushed back into the flames without hesitation. He never returned. His final act became a symbol of a father’s love and sacrifice. As the inferno spread rapidly through the congested structure, the atmosphere around Charminar turned silent with fear and grief.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, district fire officer Venkanna, who fought bravely despite being hospitalised for suffocation, hoped that the Gulzar Houz tragedy would serve as a lesson on the importance of fire safety measures, emergency exits, disaster preparedness, and safe building practices, so that such a loss would never occur again.

Hyderabad, however, continues to remain aloof to fire safety for making use of every foot of the real estate. Over the last year, more than 20 fire accidents have occurred in the city, killing and injuring many people.

After the Gulzur Houz accident, the government appointed a high-powered six-member inquiry committee to suggest remedial measures. The two most important measures were electrical audits and load enforcement by TGSPDCL, and structural safety and emergency exits by GHMC.

But thousands of families still use heavy loads of electricity, using decades-old internal wiring, and a similar number of houses lack emergency exits in the event of a fire accident, making houses virtually tinder boxes.