Tragedy strikes Hyderabad: Nine lives lost as chemical fire engulfs residential building

A devastating incident unfolded in Hyderabad's Bazarghat near Nampally, where nine people, including two women and a child, lost their lives and 12 others sustained injuries in a fire that broke out in a four-storeyed building on Monday morning. The tragedy occurred around 9:30 am when a fire ignited in chemical drums stored on the stilt floor of the building, reportedly while a car was being repaired.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) M Venkateshwarlu revealed that preliminary inquiries suggested the presence of an inflammable chemical used in fibre-plastic manufacturing, raising questions about how sparks led to the chemical catching fire.

Local reports indicate that the fire, initially small, rapidly spread throughout the stilt area, prompting a swift response from authorities. Five fire tenders were deployed, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) sent two teams for rescue operations. The flames were brought under control within an hour, and 21 individuals trapped in the building were rescued and rushed to the Osmania General Hospital. Tragically, seven of them succumbed to injuries, attributed to burns and asphyxiation.

DCP Venkateshwarlu noted that the preliminary investigation pointed to the unauthorized storage of hazardous chemicals in a densely populated residential area. The chemical's flammability and the circumstances leading to the fire remain under scrutiny. The DCP emphasized that storing such dangerous substances without permission is a violation, but action cannot be taken without a formal complaint.