Nampally fire: Five, including two children, killed in furniture shop

Hyderabad authorities confirmed that five people died after a massive fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in a four‑storey furniture shop building in the bustling Nampally area. The blaze erupted around 1 pm at the Bacha’s furniture shop on Nampally Station Road and quickly spread, trapping individuals in the basement and cellar areas , officials said.

Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department Director General Vikram Singh Mann said the incident was a “ clear case of criminal negligence ” and pointed out multiple violations of safety norms. “Chemicals and highly flammable materials were stored in the cellar, making the fire spread rapidly. The basement was meant only for parking, but it was illegally used for storage and accommodation, which led to this tragedy,” he said. Mann added that the basement being densely packed with combustible material also delayed rescue and firefighting operations .

Police and rescue teams recovered the bodies of all five victims from the smoke‑filled cellar on Sunday morning after a nearly 22‑hour operation . The deceased were identified as Praneeth (11) and Akhil (7) , the sons of a security guard; Mohammed Imtiaz (28) and Syed Habib (40) , both workers at the shop; and Bebi (44) , a watchwoman who lived in the cellar with her family. Rescue officials believe the victims died of suffocation and severe burns due to thick smoke and intense heat .

Expressing shock and grief, Transport and Hyderabad District in‑charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the government would support the victims’ families and help meet their needs. “ We have informed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and assured support to the affected families. I have directed the police to register criminal cases against the shop owner for violating fire safety norms,” he told reporters. Prabhakar also urged civic agencies to enforce fire safety rules strictly and urged citizens to report buildings that do not comply with safety regulations.

Officials have registered criminal cases against the shop owner and building operators for negligence and non‑compliance with mandatory safety guidelines. Investigators are also examining whether the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, improper storage of materials, or other factors , with final conclusions expected after forensic and post‑mortem reports.

The fire involved a multi‑agency response, including police, fire services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) teams, and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA). Thick smoke and blocked access due to stored materials made the rescue operation extremely challenging.

Authorities have shifted the bodies to Osmania General Hospital for post‑mortem examination , and DNA tests are being used where identification was difficult due to the condition of the remains.