Telangana: Faulty wiring, unsafe power usage take a heavy toll

HYDERABAD: Electrical short circuits have emerged as the second leading cause of fire accidents in Telangana this year with 2,226 incidents reported. This raises serious concerns over ageing electrical infrastructure, unsafe power usage and weak enforcement of fire safety norms, says Telangana fire services department data.There was a steady increase in fires linked to faulty wiring and electrical overloads, particularly in Hyderabad’s densely populated residential and commercial areas. Many buildings, in older localities especially, continue to depend on outdated wiring systems unable to cope with modern demands.Recent tragedies have highlighted the rising risk. In the Gulzar Houz fire, 17 of a single family died after a suspected short circuit triggered a blaze ina residential building. In Shahlibanda, two people perished in a fire of electrical origin at a commercial establishment in late Nov. More recently, a house fire in Kacheguda claimed the lives of twin toddlers. Cops suspect an electrical fault.Commercial spaces have been affected, too. In May, two shops were gutted in a major fire at a Chandanagar mall reportedly caused by short circuit. Alert staff managed to evacuate customers in time, thus preventing fatalities.Fire safety experts point to Hyderabad’s unique urban profile — a mix of rapidly expanding commercial hubs and high-density older neighbourhoods, particularly in the Old City — as a key vulnerability. “Many buildings in older parts of the city were built much ago, when electricity use was limited. Today, the same wiring is expected to handle ACs, heaters and heavy commercial equipment,” said KM Lakshmana Rao, disaster management expert and JNTUH ex-professor. Severe power fluctuations have become a major fire hazard, he added.