A fire in a G+2 commercial building at Madina Circle near Charminar and Pathar Gatti damaged seven shops on Monday, prompting a seven- to eight-hour firefighting operation in one of Hyderabad’s busiest Old City commercial areas.
The blaze began on the first floor at around 9.40 am and spread quickly to adjoining shops, according to fire officials. Thick smoke rose from the building as traders, passers-by and emergency personnel gathered at the site. The incident also slowed traffic around Madina Circle, where commercial activity and pedestrian movement are typically concentrated.
Four fire tenders were sent to the location after the fire was reported. Firefighters worked for nearly seven to eight hours before bringing the flames under control, with the prolonged operation reflecting the intensity of the blaze and the challenges of responding inside a densely occupied commercial building.
Several of the affected premises stored textiles and clothes. Most of the seven shops suffered heavy damage, while preliminary estimates put the total losses at several lakhs of rupees. A detailed assessment will be carried out after consultations with the shopkeepers, fire officials said.
Rajkumar, station fire officer at the High Court fire station, described the fire as being of “medium to serious intensity”. He said preliminary indications pointed to a short circuit in an electrical panel as the likely cause, but stressed that the exact reason remained under investigation.
The suspected electrical origin places the focus on the condition of power panels and wiring in older or intensively used commercial buildings, although no final finding has been issued. The building must first be declared safe before a detailed probe can begin, according to the fire officer.
The incident has affected traders operating in a prominent commercial zone close to the Charminar and Pathar Gatti areas. Shops dealing in textiles and clothing face not only structural damage but also potential losses to stored inventory, with the final financial impact still to be determined.
Fire officials said the investigation would proceed once the premises are declared safe. The authorities’ next steps include examining the electrical panel, assessing the damage in consultation with shopkeepers and establishing the precise cause of the fire.
