HYDERABAD: From January to September this year, Telangana has experienced an alarming increase in fire incidents, resulting in a staggering property loss of ₹819.37 crore—the highest recorded in the state’s history over the past 11 years. In comparison, 2018 reported a previous peak of ₹260.16 crore in damages from 9,120 fire incidents, as per data from the state fire department.
To date, the state has logged 7,276 fire accidents, claiming 142 lives. The only other year with a greater fatality rate was in 2015, with 159 deaths resulting from fires.
“The uptick in incidents in major industrial areas like Pashamailaryam and Bollarum has led to damages amounting to hundreds of crores,” stated GV Naryana Rao, director of the fire department.
The devastating explosion at Sigachi Industries alone led to an estimated revenue loss of around ₹60 crore. This incident from June 30 contributed significantly to the increase in fatalities, leaving 46 people dead.
Additional incidents causing substantial property loss included a significant fire at a footwear store in Madinaguda during the same month, with damages estimated between ₹15 and ₹20 lakh.
SP Anchuri, a city-based infrastructure consultant, noted that while some older industries adhere to safety regulations, many others do not, leading to accidents. Although audits and inspections are mandatory, they represent only basic compliance, he added.
“Genuine safety requires a comprehensive approach involving integrated design, risk awareness, and avenues for worker feedback and whistleblower protections,” Anchuri explained.
He further elaborated: “Effective safety design should incorporate features like underground or terrace water tanks, automatic sprinklers, and fire detection systems. In addition to third-party audits, bi-monthly inspections across departments are essential to incentivize companies to enhance safety measures and mitigate risks. However, gaps may persist as there is no risk-based grading to focus on the highest-risk facilities.”
The fire department has received over 7,000 distress calls related to fires this year. The most frequent calls came from agricultural zones (1,035 fires), followed by residential areas (898), outdoor storage and warehouses (295), industrial sites (203), as well as from open litter areas and vehicles on roads and railways.
“Many residential areas, particularly in the city, are subjected to dangerously high voltage levels. The electricity department must be held accountable and collaborate with the fire department. Voltage instability remains a pressing hazard,” said KM Lakshmana Rao, a disaster management expert and former professor at JNTUH, highlighting severe power fluctuations—especially in Hyderabad’s Old City—as a significant fire risk.
In May, a short circuit in a commercial-residential property in Gulzar Houz, likely due to an aging electrical system, resulted in a catastrophic fire that claimed 17 lives.
Experts have also pointed out that Hyderabad and its surrounding areas are particularly vulnerable to fires due to factors such as outdated and unsafe infrastructure, high population density, congested layouts, and unregulated industrial expansion.
A senior fire official stated that the department is emphasizing regular electrical audits for homes and industries, especially in high-risk areas, alongside strict enforcement of fire safety regulations in buildings, warehouses, and factories.
“We are accelerating public awareness campaigns focused on the safe use of fire, gas, and electrical appliances,” the official mentioned, adding, “It is crucial for people to install fire detection systems in both commercial and residential settings. We will soon initiate requests to identify areas facing voltage fluctuations and perform necessary inspections.”
