Gulzar Houz fire: Shabbir Ali visits site, promises government aid to victims’ families

Hyderabad: Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Sunday visited the charred remains of the Gulzar Houz building in Hyderabad’s Old City, where a fire in the early hours claimed 17 lives, including several children. Standing amid the devastation, Shabbir Ali called the incident “deeply distressing” and pledged full support to the families of the victims.

Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Hyderabad DCC President Waliullah Sameer, TPCC spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin and senior officials, Shabbir Ali reviewed the situation on the ground and interacted with fire and civic personnel.

Seventeen people, including women and children, died many due to suffocation after the fire broke out in the congested G+2 building near Gulzar House Chowrasta. Shabbir Ali said the tragedy had shaken the entire city and stressed the need for urgent safety reforms in densely packed neighbourhoods like the Old City.

“This is a historic area with narrow lanes and clustered buildings. Rescue teams faced immense difficulty. It’s time we revisit our safety protocols for such areas,” he said.

He confirmed that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s government had announced ₹5 lakh in ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and promised continued support for those injured. “The response was immediate. We’re also closely monitoring the treatment of survivors,” he said.

Shabbir Ali appealed for unity and compassion in the face of the disaster. “This is not a moment for politics. Let’s stand together to ensure justice for the victims and take steps to prevent such incidents,” he said.