Hyderabad: A fire broke out in a flat on the seventh floor of Sreela Heights, a residential apartment in East Marredpally, on Friday evening, triggering panic among the residents who rushed out to safety. No one was injured, police said.
The apartment houses 18 residential flats and a supermarket on the ground floor. Police and fire tenders rushed to the spot upon getting information and doused the fire. Prima facie inquiries revealed that the apartment had fire safety equipment in place, but it was not in a useable condition. Police said they were verifying the details.
Gopalapuram ACP Nemalikanti Sudhir said after the fire was put off, the priority was to ensure that power supply was restored to be building and all residents could return to their flats.
"A fire safety audit will be conducted and a detailed investigation will be done on the fire safety preparedness in the building. If any lapses are found, action will be initiated against the apartment welfare association," he added.
Muralidhar, secretary, Sreela Heights association, said that their fire safety equipment was maintained regularly as per norms, and periodical checks were conducted by authorised agencies.
P. Laxman Goud, 68, who stays in a rented flat, said the fire broke out when his wife was performing puja. They received an alert and left the flat. In no time, fire spread in the apartment and thick smoke engulfed the area, triggering panic as it occurred a week after the devastating fire in a six-storey building in Ramgopalpet.
