Tragic Hyderabad Fire Claims Five Lives, Including Two Children
In a devastating incident that has shocked Hyderabad, five individuals, including two young children, lost their lives after being trapped inside a burning furniture showroom. The tragic event unfolded at the Batcha Furniture Castle showroom located within the Hindi Prachar Sabha complex in Nampally. The fire erupted on Saturday, and despite an extensive all-night rescue operation conducted by fire and emergency personnel, the victims were found deceased on Sunday afternoon.
Rescue Operation and Recovery of Bodies
The bodies of the victims were eventually retrieved from one of the two basements of the building. The rescue mission, which spanned over 20 hours, was fraught with challenges due to the intense blaze and hazardous conditions. The first body was recovered around 9 am on Sunday, marking a somber conclusion to the prolonged efforts by the rescue teams.
All the recovered bodies have been sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the precise cause of death. While the victims sustained multiple burn injuries, fire officials suspect that asphyxiation, likely caused by thick smoke, was the primary factor in their demise.
Identification of the Victims
The deceased have been identified as:
- Praneeth Kumar, aged 11, and Akhil Kumar, aged 7 – siblings who were residing in the building with their parents.
- Mohammed Imtiyaz, 30 years old, and Syed Habeeb, 31 years old, both of whom were employees at the showroom.
- Bebi, a 60-year-old building guard who lived in the cellar along with her two sons.
This tragic loss has left the local community in mourning, highlighting the human cost of the incident.
Owner Arrested and Legal Action
Following a complaint lodged by one of the victims' family members, the Abids police have taken swift legal action. A case has been registered under Sections 110 (culpable homicide) and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the showroom owner, Satish Batcha. He was arrested by evening and subsequently sent to judicial remand.
K Shilpavalli, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for the central zone, emphasized that the investigation will thoroughly examine Batcha's role in the alleged illegal use of the cellar and the apparent lack of adequate fire safety measures. "We will examine his role in the alleged illegal use of the cellar, and the lack of fire safety measures will be thoroughly probed," stated Shilpavalli, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations.
Safety Violations and Rescue Challenges
Preliminary investigations have revealed significant safety violations that exacerbated the tragedy. According to police reports, the owner allegedly used both basements as warehouses, contravening established safety norms. This improper storage not only blocked potential escape routes but also fueled the fire, creating immense challenges for the rescuers.
Vikram Singh Mann, the Director General of the fire department, provided detailed insights into the obstacles faced during the rescue. "The victims first attempted to escape from their homes that were on B1. But since it was packed with furniture, they then tried to use the staircase. That too was sealed off with an iron shutter," explained Mann. He further noted that the basements were stocked with large quantities of combustible materials, such as foam, wooden sofas, and chairs, which intensified the blaze and generated thick, suffocating smoke.
Mann added that hazardous chemicals were also stored in the basements, contributing to the fire's severity. The rescue teams had to break into the building from the side to access the trapped individuals, as the main entrances were obstructed by furniture and debris.
Investigation into the Fire's Cause
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire officials have proposed several possibilities, including a short circuit, the ignition of flammable materials, or even a lit cigarette. "It could also have been a lit cigarette," suggested Mann, indicating the range of factors being considered.
The Hyderabad police Clues Team visited the site on Sunday to inspect the cause but faced difficulties due to the extreme heat inside the cellar, which prevented them from collecting samples of ash, electrical wires, and other crucial evidence. They plan to return at a later time to complete their investigation.
In a move to ensure a comprehensive probe, the fire department has enlisted the assistance of an independent fire expert from Nagpur. This step aims to bring additional expertise to the investigation and help determine the precise sequence of events that led to the fire.
Local Context and Financial Impact
Satish Batcha is known as a prominent trader in the Nampally furniture market, which explains the substantial inventory stored in the cellar. Local sources estimate that the value of the damaged property could run into crores of rupees, reflecting the significant financial loss incurred alongside the tragic loss of life.
This incident has raised serious concerns about fire safety compliance in commercial establishments across Hyderabad. It underscores the critical need for stringent adherence to safety regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
