The Telangana Fire Department reported the blaze began at 6:16am on the ground floor of a G+2 building. Within minutes, it spread upstairs, trapping families before help arrived
Published May 19, 2025 | 10:08 PM ⚊ Updated May 19, 2025 | 10:08 PM
Rescue efforts following the fire near Charminar in Hyderabad.
Synopsis: Telangana’s Director of Public Health, Dr. B Ravinder Nayak, denied reports of oxygen shortages in ambulances during the 18 May Gulzar Houz fire, which claimed 17 lives from one family. The blaze, among Hyderabad’s worst in recent years, raised concerns after grieving relatives questioned Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav about missing oxygen support in ambulances ferrying victims to the hospital
Telangana Director of Public Health & Family Welfare Dr. B Ravinder Nayak, has denied circulating allegations regarding an alleged shortage of oxygen in ambulances during the tragic Gulzar Houz fire incident on 18 May.
A devastating fire broke out at the Gulzar Houz building near Charminar in Hyderabad in the early hours of Sunday, 18 May, 2025. The incident resulted in the deaths of 17 members of a single family, including eight children, making it one of the city’s most tragic fire disasters in recent years.
Relatives of the deceased questioned Congress Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Yadav, who visited the hospital, regarding the lack of an oxygen facility in ambulances.
“There are photos of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, but there was no mask inside. The child was alive when she was taken, but due to asphyxiation, she couldn’t breathe properly. If an oxygen mask had been there, she could have been saved,” said the agitated kin of the deceased.
The health director said that the incident, which claimed the lives of all victims involved, prompted a swift response from emergency services.
Dr. Nayak clarified that the first patient was safely transported to Osmania Hospital at 6:25 am on 18 May, in ambulance number TS08UL5682. “In total, eight ambulances were dispatched to the scene,” he added. A total of 15 patients were subsequently transported to nearby hospitals, including Osmania, CARE, Apollo, and Yashoda hospitals, using 108 ambulances.
Dr. Nayak emphasised that each ambulance was equipped with oxygen support, ensuring the adequate care of the patients.
Addressing the allegation about oxygen shortages, Dr. Nayak urged the public to refrain from spreading such misinformation. He noted that “such misinformation can demoralise the health department staff and emergency responders.”
Dr. Nayak also provided an update on the incident’s response. “The department was immediately alerted about the fire, and a team of doctors was sent to the location without delay. A team of specialist doctors was also placed on standby at Osmania Hospital to provide care for the injured,” he stated.
Regrettably, he confirmed that all victims lost their lives in the tragic fire. “However, efforts were made to complete post-mortem procedures swiftly to minimise distress to the families of the deceased,” he said.
According to the Telangana Fire Disaster Response and Emergency Services, the fire broke out at 6.16am on the ground floor of the G+2 building.
The first water tender from Moghalpura Fire Station was dispatched at 6.17am and reached the site by 6.20am. The blaze quickly spread to the upper residential floors, trapping families inside.
Firefighting, search, and rescue operations were carried out simultaneously. Despite challenges including narrow lanes, poor site access, and a single narrow staircase filled with smoke, firefighters managed to rescue 17 individuals from the first floor and shift them to hospitals.
The deceased have been identified as:
Due to access constraints, assistance was called from nearby fire stations.
In total, 12 fire appliances, including 11 vehicles and one advanced firefighting robot (which was ultimately not required), were deployed.
A Bronto Skylift hydraulic platform was used to reach the upper floors. The operation involved 17 officers and 70 personnel, and lasted for over two hours.
According to officials, the building’s design contributed to the difficulties: only one narrow, centrally located staircase led to the upper floors, and bikes parked on the ground floor blocked access while feeding the flames.
With no alternative exit or external windows for ventilation, firefighters had to drill a hole through a wall to rescue trapped residents.
The suspected cause of the fire remains under investigation, although GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi has stated it was due to a short circuit. The extent of property damage has not yet been determined.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
