Hyderabad: A year has passed since the devastating fire at Gulzar Houz near Charminar, which claimed 17 lives, including eight children. But for the surviving members of the family, time has done little to heal the pain of one of Hyderabad’s worst fire tragedies.
In the early hours of May 18, 2025, a massive fire broke out in a three‑storey building housing a jewellery and pearl shop on the ground floor and residences above. The victims, many of whom had gathered for a reunion during the summer holidays, were sleeping on the first floor.
By the time they could respond and attempt to escape, the only staircase was blocked by the fire, trapping them on the first floor. All 17 victims belonged to the same extended family, and several died due to smoke inhalation before rescuers could reach them.
Now, one year later, the surviving relatives say they are still struggling to move forward. Speaking with Deccan Chronicle, family members said authorities have not handed over the fire‑damaged house, leaving several survivors displaced and emotionally shattered.
“Our family is still coping with the emotional and financial aftermath of the incident. While the government and officials showed unconditional support in the immediate aftermath, over time we felt completely forgotten,” said Yogesh Modi, a family member.
He added, “Since then, we have faced challenges at every step — whether it was obtaining death certificates, receiving the ex‑gratia that was announced, or dealing with official procedures related to the case.”
The building, located in the congested lanes of Gulzar Houz, remains sealed and blocked off. Survivors say the delay has added to their trauma, preventing them from rebuilding their lives.
“Authorities had taken control of the property with the assurance that it would be respectfully handed back to us once the investigation was completed. However, even after one year and multiple requests, the house has still not been returned to us,” Yogesh said.
The tragedy shocked the entire country last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh per victim, while the Telangana government announced an ex‑gratia of ₹5 lakh per victim and formed a high‑level committee to investigate the incident and recommend fire safety measures.
Yogesh said, “Managing these prolonged government‑related issues, while trying to recover emotionally and financially, has been extremely difficult for our family. Since we did not have any insurance coverage at the time of the incident, we were left to rebuild everything entirely on our own. Despite everything, we are trying to move forward step by step, hoping to rebuild our lives with dignity and resilience.”
The Hyderabad collector’s office did not respond to Deccan Chronicle.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
