KTR also said the government would do better to afford the same interest and care on public safety issues as it has been doing to hold beauty pageants.
Hyderabad: The BRS on Monday said the fire accident in Gulzar Houz on Sunday in which 17 people lost their lives, exposed the sheer unpreparedness and lackadaisical approach to fire safety, and fire-fighting and rescue operations in the state.
Party working president K.T. Rama Rao after a visit to the accident site, and interacting with the locals and affected families, expressed disappointment at the poorly equipped fire-fighters who he claimed did not have masks to protect from the smoke, how ambulances that were used to take the injured to hospitals did not oxygen cylinders or masks. “Some fire tenders when they reached the site, did not have water in them,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Rama Rao said “I am not criticising anyone, but voicing concerns shared by the victims’ families and highlighting gaps that need urgent attention. This incident is one of the most painful tragedies in Hyderabad’s history, eight of the victims were children. Had basic life support and saving devices been available, some lives could have been saved.”
Rama Rao said had Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who holds both the home and municipal administration portfolios, visited the accident, it would have offered some solace to the grieving families and sent a strong message about the government’s commitment to public safety. “The only request of the locals and everyone is that such a tragedy should not recur and destroy families,” he added.
“When summer arrives, the municipal administration department should convene review meetings to assess fire preparedness. That did not happen, and that’s unfortunate,” he said.
Calling on the government to provide Rs 25 lakh as compensation for each life lost, Rama Rao said Old City areas like Gulzar Houz have high population density and narrow lanes, making fire and rescue operations extremely difficult. “Our officers need regular training and mock drills. Emergency services must be equipped and functional. This is not just a demand—it’s a necessity,” he said.
He also said the government would do better to afford the same interest and care on public safety issues as it has been doing to hold beauty pageants.
