A devastating fire claimed the lives of a 50-year-old woman and her two grandchildren in the early hours of Friday at Kalalwada Colony in Miryalaguda town, Nalgonda district. The incident occurred shortly after midnight, with preliminary investigations pointing to a suspected short-circuit followed by a gas cylinder explosion.
Fire Engulfs Home
The victims were identified as Chandrakala (50), her grandson Lakshman (16), and granddaughter Pranitha (14). Lakshman had dropped out of school, while Pranitha was a Class IX student. According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out around 12 am and quickly spread through the asbestos-roofed house. Locals initially attempted to douse the flames with water and alerted the police, who then contacted the fire services department.
Explosion and Rescue Efforts
During the rescue efforts, a gas cylinder inside the house exploded, triggering panic among the bystanders. The force of the explosion shattered the asbestos sheets and caused portions of the walls to collapse. Fire department personnel managed to bring the blaze under control after several hours. Upon entering the house, they discovered the charred bodies of the three victims.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajasekhar Raju stated that the bodies of Chandrakala and Pranitha were recovered close to the door, suggesting they attempted to escape but were overwhelmed by thick smoke. Lakshman's body was found deeper inside the house.
Family Tragedy
Chandrakala's daughter, who works in Pune, rushed to Hyderabad upon learning of the deaths of her mother and children. According to Miryalaguda Inspector M Nagabushan Rao, she had left for Pune only a week ago to take up a job. The grandchildren were staying with Chandrakala, whose husband had died due to ill-health the previous month.
Fire department officials confirmed that everything inside the house was gutted. The incident has left the local community in shock, and authorities are conducting further investigations to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
