Gulzar House Fire Tragedy victims shows anger
Article Today, Hyderabad:
The devastating fire that broke out on the 18th in Gulzar House, located in the Old City of Hyderabad, has exposed serious lapses in the functioning of Telangana’s fire department, police, and medical emergency services. The incident claimed the lives of 17 people, including eight children, triggering widespread grief and outrage among the victims’ families. Holding the authorities responsible, the families have demanded a judicial inquiry, accusing officials of negligence and lack of preparedness which led to the tragedy. The incident has sparked a serious debate over fire safety measures in Hyderabad’s congested urban areas.
Fire Services Arrived Late and Ill-Equipped
Although the fire is officially said to have been caused by a short circuit, victims’ families allege that it was the failure of the emergency response system that turned the accident into a disaster. Santosh Gupta, who lost family members, expressed her anguish stating that fire engines did not arrive for nearly an hour. Even when they did, they lacked basic equipment like ladders and tools to break through walls, preventing the fire personnel from entering the building in time to rescue people trapped inside.
Utkarsh Agarwal, another victim’s relative, pointed out that the Moghalpura Fire Station is only 1.6 kilometers away, yet the first fire engine reached the scene only around 6:35 to 6:40 PM. He added that the engine had no proper water supply, flashlights, or protective gear. It was the local residents, he said, who began rescue operations before the officials arrived.
No Oxygen in Ambulances, Medical Negligence Alleged
As the injured were being shifted to hospitals, families discovered that many ambulances lacked oxygen cylinders and basic medical equipment. Santosh Gupta alleged that the absence of oxygen led to more deaths. “If help had come just five minutes earlier with the right equipment, at least some lives could have been saved,” she said with deep emotion.
Complaints were also raised against the doctors at Osmania General Hospital. According to victims’ families, the doctors refused to begin treatment until police cases were officially registered. As a result, several injured individuals had to be shifted to private hospitals. Santosh Gupta claimed that due to this delay, three people lost their lives, blaming it on medical negligence at the government facility.
No Fire Safety Systems in Building
The tragedy also exposed dangerous flaws in the building’s fire safety setup. The Gulzar House structure lacked smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Moreover, the building had only one narrow exit, making it impossible for people to escape when the fire spread rapidly. The electric wiring and supply systems in the area also came under scrutiny, with residents demanding stricter regulations and better maintenance in densely populated localities like the Old City.
Demand for Judicial Inquiry
Families of the victims are now demanding a thorough judicial investigation into the incident. “Seventeen of our family members, including children, died because of the negligence of officials. This must not be allowed to happen again,” said Santosh Gupta. She urged the government to take strict action against those responsible and ensure such tragedies do not repeat in the future. The Gulzar House fire has become a stark reminder of the urgent need to overhaul emergency response systems and enforce fire safety regulations in Hyderabad’s crowded urban areas.
