Nampally fire: 19 hours on, two-floor cellar still inaccessible as flames and smoke persist

Over 19 hours after a major fire broke out at a furniture store in Nampally, firefighters continued operations on Sunday (January 25, 2026), as flames and smoke persisted in the building’s cellar, where five people are feared trapped.

Fire officials said the biggest challenge remains accessing the two-level cellar, spread across the -1 and -2 floors, which is packed with stored goods and has limited entry points. Thick smoke continues to escape from below ground, indicating that pockets of fire are still active.

“There are only two access points to the cellar – one staircase inside the shop, which had already been blocked by the owners, and a narrow ramp from the outside,” said Hyderabad Fire Officer-II Ajmeera Sreedas. He added that shop owners and workers were using the ramp to move and store material inside the cellar. “When the fire broke out, the material stored near the ramp caught fire, collapsed and completely blocked the entry,” he said.

According to the official, after the fire started, two people allegedly rushed into the cellar through the ramp in an attempt to rescue three others who were believed to be stuck inside. However, before they could exit, burning material fell and sealed the narrow passage, trapping all five inside the cellar area. The official added that identification of the bodies, if recovered, will be extremely challenging, given the intensity and duration of the fire.

To gain access to the basement, earthmovers have been pressed into service to excavate large holes along the outer walls of the basement. Concrete slabs and debris have been pulled apart to create ventilation points, from where dense smoke continues to pour out. Simultaneously, firefighters are also dismantling the front portion of the shop, cutting through structural sections to open up an alternate access route to the cellar and allow heat and smoke to escape.

Officials said the fire has been particularly difficult to control due to the nature of the materials stored in the basement. The cellar was being used as a godown and contained large quantities of furniture, mattresses and other highly inflammable items, which intensified the blaze and prolonged firefighting efforts.

According to an official from the fire control room, a total of 17 firefighting vehicles have been deployed so far, including a bronto skylift and a firefighting robot. More than 70 firefighters, including 10 to 15 senior officials, have been working in rotation as the operation entered its second day, focusing on cooling, debris removal and attempts to safely reach the cellar.

Experts from Nagpur, who had earlier analysed the Gulzar Houz fire near Charminar claimed the lives of 17 members of a single family, along with engineering experts from JNTU, are expected to visit the site to assess the situation and probe the cause of the fire.

Firefighting and rescue operations are expected to continue through the day.