Hyderabad Apartment Fire Leaves 11 Injured, Multiple Bikes Destroyed
A major fire erupted in the basement of a residential complex in Hyderabad's Gachibowli area on Monday morning, resulting in at least 11 injuries and the complete destruction of nine motorcycles. The incident occurred at JV Plaza in TNGOs Colony, sending shockwaves through the community and raising serious safety concerns.
Critical Injuries and Suspected Cause
Among the injured, one individual is reported to be in critical condition with severe burn injuries, while others are receiving treatment primarily for smoke inhalation. Fire officials have pointed to a suspected short-circuit during the charging of an electric vehicle in the cellar as the likely ignition source for the devastating blaze.
"The fire first engulfed the cellar and later reached the first two floors, causing panic among residents who gathered on the terrace," explained Gachibowli Station Fire Officer N Srikanth. He noted that the distress call came in at approximately 7:20 AM, prompting the immediate dispatch of two fire engines from Gachibowli and Madhapur stations.
Rapid Spread and Rescue Operations
The presence of three sofas in the basement is believed to have significantly accelerated the fire's spread, complicating containment efforts. The building, a G+4 structure with a penthouse, housed around 40 residents at the time of the incident. Firefighters managed to bring the flames under control within 20 minutes, followed by intensive rescue operations to evacuate trapped individuals.
Mani Babu, a resident of the complex, described the chaotic scene: "While most residents rushed to the terrace, two of my roommates on the second floor mistakenly went downstairs, thinking the fire originated there. Both inhaled smoke, and one, Rajashekhar, suffered critical burn injuries."
Vulnerable Victims and Safety Lapses
The basement also contained a room where the apartment's security guard lived with his family. Tragically, his seven-month-old daughter experienced severe breathing difficulties due to smoke inhalation and is currently hospitalized. All injured persons were transported to Continental Hospital for emergency care.
Madhapur Station Fire Officer Anjaneyulu highlighted a significant safety oversight: "The building lacked water sprinklers in the cellar. We are investigating further lapses, but the storage of flammable sofas certainly exacerbated the situation."
Conflicting Reports and Legal Action
Discrepancies emerged regarding the exact number of casualties. While police confirmed 11 injuries, hospital officials stated that 16 people were initially brought in, with three discharged after first aid. Currently, 13 patients remain under treatment, including Rajashekhar, who is in critical condition in the ICU.
Gachibowli SI K Shashipal Reddy announced that a formal case has been registered based on a complaint filed by Mani Babu, with investigations ongoing to determine full accountability. This incident follows a similar tragedy just four months prior, when a basement fire at a Nampally furniture shop claimed five lives, including two children.
