Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 18 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday expressed deep shock over the tragic fire mishap that occurred near Gulzar House in the Old City of Hyderabad.

He instructed the top officials to take all necessary measures to save the families trapped in the fire accident; the Chief Minister issued orders to shift the injured to nearby hospitals and provide better medical treatment.

The CM spoke to Minister Ponnam Prabhakar about the fire incident on the phone and ordered to intensify rescue operations. He also enquired about the steps being taken for rescue and relief operations by the Police and Fire Service wings.

CM Revanth Reddy also expressed condolences to the victims' families on the phone and assured them of all assistance from the government. Director General of Disaster Management and Fire Services Nagi Reddy has been asked to closely monitor relief operations.

According to Telangana Fire Disaster Response Emergency and Civil Defence, at least 17 people lost their lives in the fire that broke out early Sunday morning at a building housing the Krishna Pearls shop and a residential complex near Charminar.

Telangana Disaster Response and Fire Services DG, Y Nagi Reddy, said, 'There was a fire incident in the Krishna Pearls shop and the residential complex in the Gulzar House area. The Fire department received the call at 6:16 am and dispatched 11 fire engines with sufficient staff by 6:17 am... The fire department used breathing operators and oxygen masks to rescue the people... The information is that 17 people could not survive... The preliminary examination shows that the cause was a short circuit...'

'There was no deficiency in the fire department fighting the fire and rescuing the people... The building had only one entryway of two metres, like a tunnel. There is only one staircase of one metre to access the first and second floors. This made the escape and rescue operation very difficult. By 9 am, the fire was under control... A total of 21 people were inside the building... The cause of death is smoke inhalation; nobody had burn injuries,' the fire official said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he was 'deeply anguished' by the loss of lives in the fire at a building at Hyderabad's Gulzar House early this morning.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister's Office wrote, 'Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.' (ANI)