Hyderabad Gulzar Houz fire tragedy: Smoke, sorrow and a system on fire

Two weeks ago, a fierce blaze tore through a century-old Hyderabad home near Charminar, claiming 17 of a family, including eight children. Even as grieving relatives point the finger at a slow, ill-equipped emergency response, the tragedy has also exposed how aging neighbourhoods with cramped homes, blocked exits and faulty wiring can turn a single short circuit into a catastrophe. Naveen Kumar and Lavpreet Kaur uncover the gaps in safety and emergency readiness

Cities