Hyderabad Fire Tragedy Leaves Families in Agonizing Wait
Outside Batcha's Furniture Castle on Nampally Station Road in Hyderabad, a palpable sense of grief and anxiety permeated the air as families of five individuals feared trapped in a devastating fire maintained a heartbreaking vigil through the night. With rescue operations continuing amid challenging conditions, these families clung to fading hope while confronting the terrifying possibility of loss.
Mother's Heartbreaking Account of Missing Children
Among the most distraught was Lakshmi, a domestic worker and mother of two young boys—Praneeth, aged 11, and Akhil, just 7 years old. The family resided in the cellar of the building that housed the furniture showroom. Sitting on the pavement, Lakshmi repeatedly expressed her wish that she had never gone to work that fateful day. Her husband, T Yadaiah, works as a salesman to support their family.
"Around 12 pm, I came home and found my elder son Praneeth flying a kite on the terrace and my younger son Akhil having lunch," Lakshmi recounted through tears. "I asked the younger one to stay inside and watch TV and then left for work. I don't know how both of them got trapped."
The devastated mother revealed that the family was initially able to contact the children by phone after the fire broke out. "They told us they were coming out, but they didn't. After that, the phone switched off," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. Praneeth was a class VI student while Akhil studied in class II at a nearby private school.
Showroom Employees Who Rushed to Rescue
A few meters away from Lakshmi, relatives of two showroom employees sat in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on the smoke-blackened building. Mohammed Imtiaz, aged 26, and Mohammed Habeeb, 40, both worked at the furniture showroom and had rushed into the building in an attempt to rescue the trapped children.
Family members revealed that Imtiaz is survived by two sons, one of them a newborn. "He just became a father again, and his wife is still admitted to hospital," said Mohammed Anwar, Habeeb's younger brother, highlighting the additional tragedy facing the family.
According to relatives, both men had entered the burning building with heroic intentions but were themselves overcome by the fire and smoke. "Habeeb was loading a vehicle with goods when he heard cries for help and rushed inside," explained his cousin, Mohammed Arif. "I thought he would return soon, but it has been over five hours now."
Watchwoman's Family Awaits Word
Nearby stood the sons of Bebi, the 43-year-old watchwoman of the showroom, anxiously waiting for any information from authorities. A native of Karnataka, Bebi lived in the cellar with her two sons alongside Lakshmi's family.
"My mother worked here five years," said Sameer Khan, her elder son who works as a security guard in the neighbourhood. "At the time of the incident, she was cooking inside. I called her and asked her to come out immediately. She said she was coming, but after some time her phone also switched off."
Rescue Operations Amid Difficult Conditions
As fire personnel battled thick smoke and intense heat inside the building, families remained outside, watching helplessly—united by shared fear, overwhelming grief, and unanswered calls that had fallen silent. The rescue operations faced significant challenges due to the structural damage and persistent smoke, prolonging the agony for waiting relatives.
The tragic incident has highlighted the precarious living conditions of many working-class families in urban areas, particularly those residing in commercial building cellars. As dawn approached, the families continued their vigil, their hope diminishing with each passing hour while rescue teams worked tirelessly to search for survivors in the devastated structure.
