In response to the tragic fire at Gulzar Houz in Hyderabad’s old city, which claimed 17 lives—including eight children—the Telangana government has constituted a high-level committee to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident.
The fire broke out on Sunday, May 18, in a commercial-cum-residential building near the iconic Charminar. Initial reports suggest it was caused by a short circuit, leading to a blast in an air conditioner compressor.
Top Officials Named to Investigative Panel
Transport and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who also oversees Greater Hyderabad, announced the formation of the six-member committee on Tuesday. The panel comprises senior IAS and IPS officers:
R.V. Karnan, GHMC Commissioner (2012-batch IAS)
Anudeep Durishetty, Hyderabad District Collector (2018-batch IAS)
C.V. Anand, Hyderabad Police Commissioner (1991-batch IPS)
Y. Nagi Reddy, Director General of Fire Services (1997-batch IPS)
A.V. Ranganath, HYDRAA Commissioner (1996-batch IPS)
Musharraf Ali Faruqui, CMD, TSSPDCL (2014-batch IAS)
Mandate of the Committee
Minister Prabhakar said the committee will investigate the root causes of the accident, assess the roles and responses of various departments during rescue operations, and evaluate the existing infrastructure’s capacity to handle such emergencies in densely populated urban areas.
The panel is also expected to recommend actionable safety reforms and long-term preventive measures. “The committee will review existing policies and fire safety protocols and advise the government on systemic improvements to safeguard public life,” Prabhakar noted.
Once the committee submits its report, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, along with the Deputy Chief Minister and senior officials, will review the findings and consider necessary policy interventions based on its recommendations.
Growing Concerns Over Fire Safety
The Gulzar Houz fire has sparked widespread concern over fire safety compliance in commercial and residential structures, particularly in older and congested parts of Hyderabad. The state government has pledged decisive action following the inquiry, with an emphasis on strengthening urban fire safety systems and ensuring accountability.
