Blazing heat stalls probe as police await forensic clarity | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: Even as Charminar police intensified their investigation into Sunday’s devastating fire near the historic monument, extreme residual heat continues to thwart expert teams from entering the charred premises.Nearly 48 hours after the blaze, specialists from ONGC and other departments remain unable to access the site and , were forced to wait until temperatures cool enough to ensure safe entry.The site has been completely cordoned off to prevent unauthorised access, as officials fear that the structural integrity of the building may have been compromised due to the intensity of the blaze. “The heat is still dangerously high, raising the risk of a potential collapse of the buildings,” said a forensic expert involved in the inquiry.Police called in ONGC experts after traces of unidentified oil were found at the scene, raising suspicions of flammable materials being stored illegally. The ONGC will work along with fire services, electricity, and other civic departments to conduct a detailed inspection and determine the exact cause of the inferno once it is safe to do so.Authorities are also awaiting post-mortem examination reports to confirm the exact cause of death. Preliminary forensic analysis suggests that 11 people had died due to severe burns and six others succumbed to suffocation. All 17 victims belonged to the same extended family.Despite the fire brigade’s efforts to extinguish the flames within four hours, the searing heat persisted through the day, delaying the sealing of the premises until evening. The fire is suspected to have originated from an electrical short-circuit, though officials have not ruled out other possible causes.“The final site inspection will be scheduled based on heat levels and the building’s stability,” a senior officer confirmed. ACP P Chandrashekar and Charminar SHO K Chandra Shekar are leading the probe, with assistance from multiple wings of the Hyderabad city police.
