Latest news with #Y.NagiReddy
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- The Hindu
44 days on, Gulzar Houz fire probe panel awaits direction; another formed for Sangareddy blast
More than six weeks after a devastating fire at Gulzar Houz near the Charminar here claimed the lives of 17 members of a single family, there is no word about the official investigation. An announcement was made on May 20 about the formation of a six-member high-level committee. But more than a month later, neither a report has been submitted nor have formal directives been issued by the government. The committee was expected to investigate the incident, assess departmental lapses, and recommend safety measures. It comprised Director General of Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Y. Nagi Reddy, Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation R.V. Karnan, Commissioner of Hyderabad City Police C.V. Anand; Chairman and Managing Director of Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited Musharraf Faruqui; Commissioner of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency A.V. Ranganath and Hyderabad District Collector Anudeep Durishetty. As per a public statement issued by Hyderabad in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on the day of the committee's formation, the report was to be submitted to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and followed by a review meeting involving Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and senior officials. However, senior officials confirmed that no Government Order was issued, and no communication issued to the committee members. 'Since no formal instructions were received, no official action has been taken. There have been informal discussions, but no structured effort or report has followed,' an official said, seeking anonymity. 'Although the announcement was made, no official communication ever followed from the government,' said another official. A fresh committee has been formed following a deadly blast at Sigachi Industries Pvt. Ltd. in Pashamylaram industrial area on Monday. The explosion, which killed at least 36 workers and injured several others, triggered immediate government response and the announcement of a high-level probe. The Chief Minister announced the formation of a five-member committee to probe the Sangareddy industrial disaster. The panel comprises the Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), Principal Secretary (Labour), Principal Secretary (Health) and Additional Director General of Police (Fire Services). The committee will not only investigate the underlying causes of the blast but also submit a report recommending preventive measures to avoid recurrence of such industrial tragedies.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Pre-deployment of teams at vulnerable points, coordination among GHMC, Traffic Police, Water Board, SPDCL, HYDRAA must during monsoon
Flood monitoring and traffic management at the 141 known waterlogging hotspots within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits was among the issues discussed at the monsoon preparedness meeting at the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre (TGICCC) in Banjara Hills on Monday (May 26). Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand stressed on the pre-deployment of teams at these vulnerable points and field-level coordination among GHMC, Traffic Police, Water Board, Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGSPDCL), Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and volunteer groups to ensure quick response during downpours. To facilitate seamless coordination, he called for optimal use of TGICCC's advanced monitoring and communication systems. He urged all departments to anticipate challenges proactively rather than reacting to crises after they unfold. The session also reviewed measures for uninterrupted power supply during storms, diverting floodwater to nalas, and responding to seasonal disease outbreaks. The structural integrity of buildings was another point of concern, with officials stressing immediate identification and intervention regarding dilapidated structures. Director General of the Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Y. Nagi Reddy called for a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for monsoon-related emergencies. He emphasised the inclusion of all key departments, especially medical and health, to streamline responsibilities and response mechanisms. Deployment of Aapda Mitra volunteers and NGOs for emergency support and use of services like the SACHET mobile app to ensure public access to timely alerts, was also discussed.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Wooden electrical panel blamed for Gulzar Houz fire in Hyderabad that killed 17 persons
A short circuit in the electric panel board of the Ground+2 commercial-cum-residential property caused the deadly fire which killed 17 of a family, the Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services has said. Seventeen persons, including eight children aged between one and seven, were killed after a massive fire engulfed the Modi residence in Gulzar Houz, a stone's throw away from Charminar, at around 6 a.m. on Sunday. The family was a household name, known for their strong foothold in the pearls and jewellery business in Hyderabad. A day after the mishap, the Gulzar Houz circle was heavily surrounded with police barricading the area to preserve the scene. 'We are waiting for the family to finish the last rites to conduct a panchnama. The place has to be preserved intact till then,' said an officer from the South Zone of Hyderabad. About 300 metres from the incident spot, vehicles were being stopped and asked to take a detour. A convoy of vehicles, including police patrol and disaster response force vehicles, were seen parked in the Gulzar Houz circle. On Monday morning, shops in the lanes leading to Charminar from Gulzar Houz circle remained shut to show support to the Modi family. The traders gathered at Mahadev Mandir in the locality to observe silence and offered prayers to those killed in the fire. However, for the stalls, shops and other establishments surrounding the minaret, business was as usual. Shedding light on the possible cause of fire, Director-General of Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department Y. Nagi Reddy said the panel of the electrical board was made of wood, which could have contributed when the short circuit occurred. 'The panel is located on the ground floor near the entrance. We corroborated this with the eyewitness and the watchman, who was sleeping on the ground floor the night before,' said the officer. While locals gathered in the area continued to stress that the trigger for the fire was voltage fluctuations due to the air conditioner's compressor unit, fire officials said that angle would also be looked into during the course of investigation. An array of political leaders have been making rounds at the incident spot, all stressing on the need for regular fire audits in shops and warehouses. Earlier in the day, BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao also visited the incident spot to offer his condolences to the grieving family. He urged traders to get fire audits done in all the shops, residentials and warehouses in the area. What is a Fire Audit? Explaining the fire audit, Mr. Nagi Reddy said that it mandates that certain establishments, including high-rise buildings, hospitals, educational institutions, and industries, undergo regular fire safety measures. 'These audits are typically conducted by third-party fire safety auditors, and their reports are necessary for obtaining or renewing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for occupancy,' said Mr. Reddy. A fire audit in Telangana is a systematic evaluation of a building's fire safety measures, ensuring compliance with the Telangana Fire Services Act, 1999, and the National Building Code of India, 2016. This audit assesses the presence and functionality of fire prevention systems, such as hydrants, sprinklers, alarms, and emergency exits, to ensure they meet the required safety standards.
Hans India
18-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Hyderabad fire: Staircase filled with smoke blocked escape
The building that caught fire near historic Charminar here on Sunday, resulting in the death of 17 people, had only one staircase, which was filled with smoke, blocking the escape for the victims, a top official said. Since the fire started on the ground floor, smoke and heat quickly reached upper floors, blocking the only available access, which was just one metre wide, the official said. The narrow staircase is centrally located inside the building. It was near to supposed seat of fire due to which the stairwell was completely filled with smoke and excessive heat. "The only access on the ground floor was completely filled with bikes blocking the same, and also provided enough fuel to the fire," Telangana State Fire Services, Disaster Response, Emergency, and Civil Defence Director General Y. Nagi Reddy said. The official stated that there were no windows/doors facing the available road to use the hydraulic platform and quick ventilation. To save time and to rescue trapped persons quickly, while firefighting was going on on the ground floor, firefighters had to drill a hole in a wall on the first floor to enter and start rescue and firefighting operations. Eight children and five women were among 17 people killed in the fire, which broke out in the building in Gulzar Houz. The building had pearls/jewellery shops on the ground floor, while a few families were residing on the first and second floors. According to Nagi Reddy, a fire call was received at 6.16 p.m. and a water tender from Moghalpura reached the fire ground at 6.20 a.m. District Fire Officer-1 Hyderabad Venkanna got injured during the firefighting operation and was admitted to the hospital. A total of 11 fire engines were used. A fire robot was brought, but could not be used due to the situation on the ground. Seventeen fire officers and 70 personnel participated in the operation. Eight personnel wore Breathing Apparatus (BA) sets and rescued 17 persons. Four people were rescued from the terrace using two ladders. One ladder from the second terrace to the first terrace and another from the first terrace to the ground. Nagi Reddy came out with details of the firefighting operations, apparently to counter Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy's claim that there was a delay on the part of the Fire Services Department in responding to the situation and that personnel lacked equipment and gear to rescue the trapped people. Personnel from the fire services, police, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and the Health and Revenue departments participated in the rescue and relief. Nagi Reddy stated that because of the timely response and action by the Fire Department, the spread of fire to adjacent properties was prevented and further loss of lives and property was averted. The suspected cause of the fire is under investigation, the official added.
The Star
18-05-2025
- The Star
Building blaze kills 17 people in India's Hyderabad city
NEW DELHI (Bernama): At least 17 people were killed in a building blaze in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad on Sunday. The fire broke out in a commercial and residential complex at Gulzar Houz near the city's famous Charminar monument. It was reported around 6.15 am and brought under control by 9 am, said Y. Nagi Reddy, director general of the Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department. There were 21 people in the three-storey building when the blaze started in the "Krishna Pearls" store on the ground and spread to the upper floors. "Seventeen people could not survive," Reddy said. The deaths were caused due to smoke inhalation, he said. The victims included eight children and five women, local media reported. As per initial information, the fire was caused by an electrical short-circuit. - Bernama
