What Happened After Three Bodies Were Found in a Fire-Damaged Building in Hyderabad?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The fire occurred in a furniture store in Hyderabad.
- Three bodies have been recovered, with four individuals still missing.
- Rescue operations faced challenges due to hazardous conditions.
- Expert inspections are underway to assess the building's safety.
- Community efforts have been vital in alerting authorities.
Hyderabad, Jan 25 (NationPress) On Sunday, authorities discovered three bodies amid the debris of a furniture shop that was devastated by a significant fire, according to police reports.
The recovery team located the charred remains of three individuals in the basement of the four-storey structure where the fire erupted on Saturday and transported them to Osmania General Hospital.
Rescue teams continued their search for four missing individuals presumed trapped within the fire's aftermath. This operation has been ongoing since Saturday afternoon.
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), along with police and firefighting units, remained actively involved in the rescue efforts.
The fire services department was also working diligently to manage the smoke still rising from the basement of Sai Vishwas Furniture Castle.
The incident began around 1 p.m. in a building situated near Nampally Railway Station in the city center.
Firefighters successfully managed to control the blaze after nearly eight hours of strenuous effort, employing skylifts and advanced robotic technology, although thick smoke complicated their rescue initiatives.
Local residents first noticed the flames and heavy smoke emanating from the warehouse's basement and promptly alerted the fire department. Authorities suspect that a short circuit may have ignited the fire.
Seven individuals, including two children, were believed to be trapped inside. They were identified as Mohammed Imtiyaz (27), an employee at the store; Syed Habeeb (28), an auto trolley driver; Yadaiah, the store watchman; his two children, 11-year-old Akhil and seven-year-old Praneet; and a woman named Beban Bee.
The rescue teams faced significant challenges in clearing the debris due to the hazardous conditions within the building.
The fire has caused extensive damage to the structure, which included a ground floor and four upper levels, along with two basements, the first of which was densely filled with furniture materials.
Concerns regarding the building's structural integrity post-fire prompted a team of engineering experts from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) to conduct an inspection. Based on their assessment, the authorities will decide on possible demolition of the building.