City of Pearls or City of Fires? Rising Arson Incidents Spark Debate in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, once proudly known as the City of Pearls, is increasingly being associated with a growing number of fire accidents, raising serious safety concerns. While tragedies often dominate headlines for a few hours and then fade from public memory, official figures reveal a shocking reality. Between January and November, a total of 8,159 fire incidents were reported across Hyderabad and surrounding areas, claiming 163 precious lives.

Alarming Fire Statistics in Hyderabad

According to official data, fire-related accidents have surged in both residential and industrial areas. The city and its outskirts witnessed some of the worst fire tragedies of the year, exposing glaring lapses in fire safety enforcement and preparedness.

Gulzar Houz Tragedy: 17 Members of One Family Killed

One of the most heartbreaking incidents occurred on May 18 at Gulzar Houz near Charminar, where a fire broke out in a residential building, killing 17 members of a single family. The fire reportedly started from an air conditioner unit, and the victims had no escape route, turning the house into a death trap.

Industrial Disaster in Sangareddy

In one of India’s worst industrial fire accidents, a reactor explosion at a pharmaceutical unit in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy, resulted in the deaths of 54 people. While 44 deaths were officially confirmed, several workers remain missing and are presumed dead, highlighting the dangers of poor industrial safety standards.

Major Fire Incidents Across the City

Hyderabad has witnessed frequent fire outbreaks at various locations, including:

• Chemical warehouses in industrial zones
• Coaching institutes and commercial shops
• Boats and jetties used for fireworks
• Restaurants, hotels, petrol pumps, and studios
• Slums and residential houses
• LPG leak-related fires and electrical short circuits

These incidents occurred almost every month, showing a disturbing pattern of negligence.

Livelihoods Destroyed Due to Poor Safety Measures

Beyond loss of life, thousands of people lost their livelihoods as shops, homes, and small businesses were reduced to ashes. In many cases, the absence of firefighting equipment and poor emergency response worsened the damage.

Key Questions Remain Unanswered

Despite repeated tragedies:

• Why are Fire Safety and PUC certificates not strictly verified?
• Why do many buildings have narrow or blocked emergency exits?
• How are large commercial complexes allowed in congested lanes?
• Why does accountability fade after ex-gratia announcements and inquiries?

In several cases, building owners allegedly escape responsibility by paying fines, while unsafe structures remain unchanged.

Need for Urgent Fire Safety Reforms

Experts stress the need for:

• Mandatory and regular fire safety audits for all buildings
• Strict checks on emergency exits and ventilation
• Special monitoring of hotels, commercial kitchens, and basements
• Close scrutiny of buildings constructed in narrow lanes

Lack of proper exits often leads to smoke suffocation, trapping people inside buildings during fires and causing avoidable deaths.

A Wake-Up Call for Authorities

The rising number of fire accidents is a clear warning. Without strict enforcement, continuous inspections, and accountability, Hyderabad risks losing more lives to preventable disasters. The city urgently needs a shift from reactive compensation to proactive safety governance.

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