Hyderabad: Five bodies, including that of a woman, were retrieved from a four-storey furniture shop building in Nampally here where a fire broke out, officials said on Sunday, January 25.
The state government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
Rescue operations have been underway for the past 21 hours to save five people, including two children, who are feared to be trapped in the basement of the building after a major fire broke out on Saturday, officials said.
“Five bodies, including that of a woman, were retrieved from the building. The search and rescue for others are ongoing,” a senior police official told PTI.
Authorities are also probing possible fire safety lapses at the premises.
Multiple agencies, including police, fire, NDRF personnel and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), launched rescue operations after the fire erupted on Saturday afternoon.
Although the fire was brought under control, thick smoke billowing out from the building made the operation difficult. Those who were trapped are the family members of a security guard and other workers.
Gross violation of safety norms, case registered
Speaking to the media, Telangana Fire and Disaster Response Director General Vikram Singh Mann pointed out illegal storage of furniture in the cellar, and the fire may have been caused either by a short circuit or a cigarette. “Chemicals were stored in the cellar, further raising the danger. The shop had not obtained any mandatory fire safety permits,” he said.
He said the department will initiate a criminal case against the shop owner, Satish, and take strict legal action. “We will take steps once a detailed inspection of the building and nearby structures is conducted,” he said.
Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed with the Telangana State Human Rights Commission (TSHRC), alleging serious lapses by the city’s civil and fire authorities and widespread violations of fire safety rules. The petitioner stated that the fire broke out in an unauthorised cellar that was operating without building and fire safety permits, trapping six people, including two children. The complaint blamed the incident on official negligence and the unchecked growth of illegal structures in it.
Follow on Twitter | Posted by Sameer Khan | | 
