Hyderabad Records Highest Fire Emergencies as Telangana Reports One Fire Every 30 Minutes

Hyderabad has emerged as the district with the highest number of fire emergencies in Telangana this year as the state witnessed a sharp increase in fire related incidents. Fire department officials say emergency teams have been responding to nearly one distress call every 30 minutes, highlighting the growing challenge of preventing accidental fires.

According to official figures, the Telangana Fire Services Department handled 8,914 fire and rescue incidents between January 1 and July 12. During the corresponding period last year, the department attended 6,273 cases, indicating a substantial rise in emergency responses.

Although fire incidents increased considerably, the number of lives lost came down. This year, 29 people died in fire related accidents, compared to 116 deaths recorded during the same period last year. Authorities credited quicker response times and improved rescue operations for helping reduce fatalities.

The financial impact of these incidents has, however, become more severe. Fires caused damage to property valued at Rs 406.54 crore this year, up from Rs 365.17 crore during the same period last year. At the same time, firefighters successfully protected assets worth more than Rs 1,117.95 crore through timely rescue and firefighting efforts.

Department records show that most incidents were classified as minor fires, with 8,187 cases. Officials also dealt with 170 medium intensity fires, 62 serious incidents, and 25 major blazes. In addition to firefighting duties, emergency personnel carried out 399 rescue operations and attended 71 other emergency situations.

Agricultural lands reported the highest number of fire incidents with 2,440 cases, followed closely by refuse dumps and outdoor storage locations with 2,372 incidents. Fires also affected residential buildings, commercial establishments, forests, vehicles, warehouses, and industrial units across the state.

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Investigators found that human negligence remained the primary reason behind most fire accidents. Careless handling of fire or combustible materials accounted for 4,622 incidents. Electrical short circuits were responsible for 1,843 cases, while the exact cause could not be determined in 1,127 incidents. Other causes included deliberate fire setting, gas leaks, and burning waste.

District wise data placed Hyderabad at the top with 875 fire emergency calls. Khammam followed with 691 incidents, while Rangareddy, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, and Medchal also reported a significant number of fire related emergencies, reflecting the need for stronger fire safety awareness across Telangana.