163 fire deaths in 2025, highest in Telangana’s 11-year history
HYDERABAD: Telangana recorded 163 deaths in fire-related incidents between January and November 2025, the highest fatality count since the state’s formation in 2014. The previous high was in 2015, when 159 people died in 8,784 incidents.
Major blasts, Old City fires drove casualty spike
This year, the state reported 8,159 fire incidents, which led to property losses of ₹865.7 crore, the highest on record. According to the fire and disaster response department, the earlier peak was in 2018, when losses stood at ₹260.1 crore from 9,120 incidents.
Director of the Telangana Fire and Disaster Response Department GV Narayana Rao said the surge in fatalities was driven by large-scale accidents, including the Sigachi Industries blast that killed 46 workers and the Gulzar Houz commercial building fire that claimed 17 lives.
“Accidents in industrial clusters such as Pashamailaram, Bollarum and parts of the Old City have contributed significantly to the death toll and property damage,” he said.
Rao added that ageing electrical infrastructure has become a major hazard. “With rising power consumption and economic activity, safety must become part of our culture. Industries cannot continue to use old machinery or outdated power lines. Just as vehicles deteriorate over time, so do electrical systems,” he said.
Experts flag outdated wiring, power fluctuations
Disaster management expert and former JNTUH professor KM Lakshmana Rao said frequent and severe power fluctuations, especially in the Old City, are now a major fire risk. He called for tighter coordination between the electricity department and fire services.
Hyderabad’s outdated wiring, overcrowded neighbourhoods, high population density and rapid industrial expansion have made the region particularly vulnerable, experts said. Infrastructure consultant SP Anchuri noted that while several older industries follow safety norms, many continue to operate without compliance.
“True safety requires integrated design, risk awareness, underground or terrace water tanks, automatic sprinklers and fire detectors. We need bi-monthly multi-department inspections and a risk-based grading system to prioritise hazardous units,” Anchuri said.
Push for electrical audits, strict enforcement
The fire department has begun insisting on regular electrical audits for homes and industries in high-risk zones. Fire safety rules in commercial buildings, warehouses and factories are being enforced more strictly. Public awareness campaigns on the safe use of fire, gas and electrical appliances have also been intensified.
