Hyderabad: In 2024, Old City reported over 500 fire accidents in 366 days — about 25% of the total 2,500 fires reported from across Greater Hyderabad that year. The incidents left at least seven dead and several others injured.Alarmingly, Gowliguda fire station in Old City alone handled 170 minor and severe cases, the highest across the 39 fire stations of Hyderabad, show official records.In the most recent case reported last week, the Gowliguda station responded to a fire in a G+3 mixed-use building in Begum Bazar, where eight residents had been trapped in a raging blaze. All of them, fortunately, escaped with minor injuries.Fire officials say that the count of accidents has been on a consistent rise in Old City raising serious concern about the safety of its residents. “The numbers have been slightly high in the last two to three years particularly in Old City where the practice of using residential buildings for commercial activities is rampant. Moreover, the buildings are congested, making it tough to carry out rescue operations,” said Y Nagi Reddy, DG, fire services.Old wiring usedThe practice of building owners breaching municipal regulations to convert residential properties into commercial establishments is a key reason for this, say experts. They add how these structures are erected with no regard for essential fire safety measures, including proper electrical wiring, sufficient staircases, and separate entry and exit points.“Residents keep installing additional electronic appliances like ACs, waters heater and ovens without upgrading the existing electrical infrastructure. As a result, it cannot sustain the increased load leading to short circuits,” said Dean Kuman, structural engineer, JNTU Hyderabad. “Also, in Old City, fire incidents become unmanageable due to restricted spaces. Buildings require a minimum of two access points for entry and exit to safeguard residents during fire emergencies.The absence of adequate space for the staircase in these structures hampers evacuation procedures and endangers occupants’ lives.”Buildings lack proper ventilationLack of proper ventilation — with the majority of the buildings housing commercial outlets in their cellars and ground floors — makes them further susceptible to fire outbreaks, officials added. “The conditions are particularly concerning during firefighting operations. The absence of ventilation prevents effective dispersal of smoke and impedes the cooling of flames during fire incidents,” said a senior official from the dept.The situation is particularly concerning along the Feelkhana Road and Begum Bazar stretch as basements in hundreds of buildings are fully occupied by shops. “These structures have become fire hazards due to overcrowded shops operating without proper fire safety installations,” the official added.A majority of the buildings here, much like the rest of the Old City, are at least 50 to 60 years old.“Monitoring residential properties being converted for commercial use has become challenging. Several business owners have illegally modified their cellars into retail spaces. Despite authorities sealing these unauthorised shops, owners frequently resume operations within a few weeks or months,” said MA Majeed, city planner (Charminar zone), GHMC.