17 Killed in fire at a building in Hyderabad; PM Modi condoles deaths

A blaze triggered by a suspected short circuit in a building near the iconic Charminar here on Sunday left 17 people dead, with a majority of them being children.

- AGENCIES

The fire broke out at a building in Gulzar House here, police said.

"All 17 who were shifted to hospitals were brought dead," a senior police official said.

A narrow staircase was the only escape route for the inmates of the building, but they could not rush out.

The building housed jewellery shops on the ground floor and people were residing in a flat above, police said adding smoke spread and people suffocated.

Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Director General Y Nagi Reddy, who inspected the spot, told reporters that the fire accident was reported between 6 am and 6.15 am.

There was a call to the fire department at 6.16 am and the fire engine was turned out at 6.17 AM, he said.

There were shops on the ground floor while the first and second floors were residential, he said.