Hyderabad: Four feared trapped in major fire at furniture showroom in Nampally

A major fire broke out at a furniture showroom in Nampally on Friday, triggering panic and large-scale rescue operations. Thick smoke engulfed the area as firefighters battled the blaze for hours, with at least four people feared trapped inside the building

Hyderabad: A major fire accident at Batcha’s Furniture Castle, a premium furniture showroom located in a multi-storied building near Railway Station Road in Nampally on Friday afternoon, triggered panic and large-scale rescue and firefighting operations, with at least four people feared missing, including members of a watchman’s family.

According to Fire Department officials, a distress call was received at 1.42 pm, even as reports suggested that the fire broke out between 12.30 pm and 1 pm, following which around ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

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Firefighters worked for nearly five hours to contain the raging blaze as thick smoke engulfed the surrounding locality, severely affecting visibility and movement.

According to the police, preliminary investigation suggested that the fire broke out on the ground floor of the G plus 3 commercial building housing the furniture store. Due to the presence of highly combustible material, the flames spread rapidly to the upper floors, with smoke billowing into the air and causing panic among commuters and residents in the busy area.

Firefighters had a tough time and first focused on ventilating the structure to clear the smoke before conducting an intensive search inside.

In a dramatic effort to release the trapped smoke, firefighters and police, assisted by locals from a neighbouring G plus 4 commercial complex, were seen breaking glass panels using stones. A bronto skylift was deployed outside the building, with personnel smashing windows on the third and fourth floors to create ventilation points and facilitate safe entry.

A local police officer overseeing the operation said the situation remained critical. “The building is filled with dense smoke and furniture materials have intensified the fire. We are proceeding cautiously while continuing the search for the missing,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, all nearby shops and commercial establishments were shut to ensure smooth movement for emergency teams.

Residents in the neighbourhood said the fire spread rapidly, leaving little time to react. “We suddenly saw flames shooting up and thick smoke everywhere. People started shouting and running out of shops,” said a shopkeeper located near the building.

Amid the tense rescue operation, concerns grew over the safety of a watchman’s family, including his two children Akhil (7), Praneeth (11), his elderly mother, and a worker, Mohd Imtiaz, who were suspected to have been trapped inside the smoke-filled structure.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, Telangana Fire Services Director General Vikram Singh Mann, Hyderabad Collector Harichandana and other senior officials were present at the site, closely monitoring the firefighting and rescue operations.

Speaking to the media, Sajjanar said rescue teams were working under challenging conditions. “We suspect three to four persons may have been trapped inside. All possible efforts are continuing, including drilling the walls,” he said.

The Abid Road police said the exact cause of the fire would be determined and a detailed investigation would be taken up once the building was declared safe.

Rescue and cooling operations continued late into the night till the filing of this report.