Hyderabad has witnessed a staggering 50% increase in fire accidents over the past three years, rising from 1,711 incidents in 2023 to 2,633 in 2025. Despite this alarming trend, the city operates only 20% of the fire stations mandated by central norms. This severe shortfall has pushed average response times to between 20 and 30 minutes, up to six times the prescribed limit of five minutes, as recommended by the Standing Fire Advisory Council under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).
Inadequate Fire Station Coverage
According to MoHA guidelines, urban areas should have at least one fire station per 10 square kilometers. Hyderabad's urban sprawl has expanded nearly threefold to around 2,000 square kilometers, yet the three municipal corporations—Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Malkajgiri—collectively operate only about 40 fire stations. In comparison, the entire state of Telangana has around 150 fire stations. Based on these norms, the Hyderabad metropolitan region alone requires approximately 200 fire stations.
Deadly Consequences of Infrastructure Gap
The consequences of this infrastructure deficit were starkly evident during the massive fire at the Sigachi industrial unit on June 30, 2025, which claimed more than 50 lives. The first fire tender reportedly arrived from Patancheru, nearly 14 kilometers away, after about 30 minutes. In another incident in November last year, a man was charred to death inside his car on the Outer Ring Road near Shamirpet, as the fire tender reached almost 30 to 45 minutes later, dispatched from Cherlapally, nearly 20 kilometers away.
Underserved Areas Along ORR and Emerging Pockets
Large stretches along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) remain underserved. In several locations, the nearest fire stations are over 10 kilometers away, requiring at least 15 minutes to reach an accident site. Existing stations along the ORR corridor are located at Gachibowli, Shamirpet, Kukatpally, Rajendranagar, Hayathnagar, Patancheru, Jeedimetla, Madhapur, and Maheshwaram. Emerging pockets such as Kokapet, Tellapur, Kollur, Kompally, and parts of Shamshabad face similar challenges. These areas have seen a proliferation of gated communities, office complexes, and educational institutions, yet lack a network of fire stations, with the closest being at least 15 kilometers (30-40 minutes) away.
Land Acquisition Challenges
Fire officials cite land acquisition as a major hurdle. Identifying strategically located sites and securing land in rapidly developing areas has become increasingly difficult due to escalating land prices and ownership disputes. G V Narayana Rao, Director of Telangana Fire Services, stated, "Efforts are underway to strengthen the city's fire safety infrastructure. In the last two years alone, the department has established seven new stations in Hyderabad, including Jubilee Hills, Amberpet, and Chandrayangutta. However, setting up new stations remains challenging due to issues related to land availability and disputes."
New Equipment and Future Plans
To strengthen firefighting capabilities, the department has placed an order for a Bronto Skylift from Finland, a specialized firefighting platform capable of dousing fires at heights of up to 104 meters. This equipment is expected to enhance the department's ability to tackle emergencies in high-rise buildings, a segment that has grown rapidly across Hyderabad's skyline.
Experts Call for Comprehensive Assessment
Experts have urged the state government to undertake a comprehensive assessment of fire-prone zones and densely populated areas across Hyderabad to identify infrastructure gaps and prioritize the establishment of new fire stations. They stressed that the expansion of fire services would require substantial investment in land, firefighting equipment, emergency vehicles, and trained personnel.
Need for Exclusive Emergency Corridor
C Andrew, a fire safety auditor and expert, emphasized the need for a dedicated emergency response mechanism on city roads. "Whenever a fire emergency is reported, traffic authorities should immediately facilitate a clear emergency corridor exclusively for fire tenders and rescue vehicles, enabling them to reach the incident site in the shortest possible time. Such a system could significantly reduce response times and help save lives and property during critical emergencies," he said.
