Major Fire in Hyderabad's Ameerpet Traps Dozens in IT Coaching Center
Hyderabad: Panic and chaos erupted in the bustling Ameerpet area on Friday morning when a significant fire broke out in a commercial building housing an IT coaching center. Approximately 70 to 80 students and staff members found themselves trapped for nearly an hour as thick, toxic smoke rapidly filled the five-storey Neelagiri Complex in Aditya Enclave, Maitrivanam.
Dramatic Rescue Operation
Firefighters from the Panjagutta station were immediately dispatched to the scene. Faced with impassable staircases choked with smoke, they employed ladders to execute a daring rescue from the building's balcony. Remarkably, despite the terrifying circumstances, no casualties or injuries were reported among those evacuated.
According to fire officials, the blaze ignited between 10:50 AM and 11:00 AM on the ground floor. Preliminary investigations point to an electrical shaft near the staircase as the likely origin. The fire then spread, but officials emphasized that the dense smoke, produced by a tangle of electrical cables and flammable materials, posed the greater immediate danger.
"More than the flames, it was the smoke that filled the upper floors. The preliminary damage is estimated between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh," stated P. Ramesh, Station Fire Officer of Panjagutta.
Eyewitness Accounts of Terror
Those inside the building described moments of sheer terror. B. Prashanth, an IT student, recounted smelling burning plastic before smoke began seeping into the classrooms.
"The windows were blocked by billboards, so there was no ventilation. Some of us panicked and rushed toward the exit, but our teachers urged us to stay calm. We only felt relief when the firefighters brought us down the ladder," Prashanth shared.
A local mobile shop owner stranded on the third floor echoed this sentiment, describing how the smoke made the stairs completely unusable. Fire engines arrived at the scene around 11:15 AM, working swiftly to bring the situation under control within an hour.
Systemic Safety Failures Exposed
The incident has starkly highlighted chronic fire safety failures in the area. T. Venkanna, District Fire Officer-1 for Hyderabad, revealed that the Neelagiri Complex, like many buildings in the vicinity, operates without the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department.
"The area is a sitting duck for such incidents. Buildings have narrow staircases, loose electrical wiring, and often lack functional fire extinguishers. They are not designed for heavy commercial use," Venkanna warned.
He announced plans for a detailed inspection of the complex on Saturday, promising action and penalties for any illegal constructions or expansions.
A Recurring Problem in a High-Risk Zone
The Neelagiri Complex, approximately 35 years old, houses over 200 small businesses, including numerous coaching centers, mobile repair shops, and printing units. Locals and students voiced long-standing concerns about the hazardous environment.
- Overcrowding: Classrooms built for 4-5 students often accommodate 10 or more.
- Hazardous Materials: Hundreds of plastic banners and billboards, which are highly flammable, cover the building's exterior and block windows.
- Infrastructure Neglect: Faulty wiring, rodent damage to cables, and a general lack of maintenance were cited by residents like shopkeeper Riyaz Samdani.
- Access Issues: Fire tenders struggle to navigate the narrow lanes and interior spaces of the complex.
Alarmingly, this is the second fire in Maitrivanam in just two months. A similar incident occurred in the nearby Annapurna Complex in early December, though no injuries were reported there either.
Official Response and Calls for Action
Authorities stressed that despite repeated awareness campaigns and mock drills, compliance with basic fire safety measures remains woefully inadequate among building and shop owners.
"These consecutive incidents should be an eye-opener. We inspected some shops last month and seized them. Some were given a month to implement safety measures. Everyone must take this seriously now," asserted A.V. Ranganath, Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Fire Services Academy (HYDRAA).
A. Sreedas, District Fire Officer-2, clarified that while HYDRAA teams regularly inspect buildings under 50 meters, taller structures must proactively coordinate with the department for safety programs.
The Friday morning fire in Ameerpet has served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enforced fire safety regulations in Hyderabad's densely packed commercial hubs, where the lives of hundreds of students and workers are potentially at risk daily.
