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
