The death toll in the fire incident in Telangana’s Secunderabad has risen to eight. The fire started in the electric bike showroom built on the ground and then spread to the first and second floors. Due to the fire, smoke filled the Ruby Hotel above the showroom of the electric bike and people died due to suffocation. Telangana Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. He said that the state government is conducting an inquiry into the incident.
The Home Minister said that the fire brigade made every effort to rescue the people, but due to the thick smoke, some people were killed, while others were saved. It is believed that 24 people were in the hotel at the time of the incident. Fire brigade personnel reached the spot and rescued seven people trapped in the multi-storey building.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs.2 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased. Fifty-fifty thousand rupees will be given to the injured. This amount will be given from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.