Hyderabad: The Gulzar Houz fire tragedy has exposed the persistent hazards in Hyderabad’s historic heart, where bustling commercial hubs like the Pearl Bazaar thrive amid congested lanes and aging infrastructure.
The building’s single, tunnel-like two-meter entryway and a one-meter-wide staircase severely hampered escape and rescue efforts, according to Telangana Fire Services Director General Y Nagi Reddy. Firefighters, despite deploying 11 fire engines and advanced equipment like Bronto Skylift platforms, struggled to navigate the narrow alleys, highlighting the area’s inaccessibility.
The devastating fire at Gulzar Houz near the iconic Charminar claimed 17 lives, including eight children, on May 18, laying bare critical safety issues in the over 400-year-old Old City. The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, engulfed a three-story building housing Srikrishna Pearls on the ground floor and residential units above, trapping occupants in a narrow, smoke-filled structure.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, who visited the site, pointed to systemic failures, urging stronger coordination among police, fire, municipal, and electricity departments. “Hyderabad is a rapidly developing city, but the Old City’s infrastructure hasn’t kept pace,” he said, noting delays in initial fire response due to inadequate equipment.
Local residents and activists echoed his concerns, criticizing lax enforcement of fire safety norms in mixed-use buildings, where shops and homes coexist without proper safeguards. A similar fire in Afzalgunj just days earlier had raised alarms, but no casualties occurred, masking the urgency of reform.
The Old City’s vibrant markets, including Putlibowli, Chaderghat, Falaknuma, Lal Darwaza, and Purani Haveli, are economic lifelines but pose unique challenges. Narrow bylanes, overloaded electrical systems, and illegal constructions are adding to risks. “This could have been avoided with regular safety audits and stricter regulations,” said a local trader, lamenting the loss of an entire family tied to the 125-year-old pearl trade.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy ordered a probe into the incident, while announcing Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased’s kin. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF. As Hyderabad mourns, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder: the Old City’s heritage and hustle demand urgent safety overhauls to prevent future heartbreak.
