Three Charred to Death as Fire and Cylinder Blast Guts Miryalaguda House

A 50-year-old woman and her two teenage grandchildren were charred to death shortly after midnight on Friday when a fire and subsequent gas cylinder explosion gutted their house in Kalalwada Colony in Miryalaguda town of Nalgonda district.

The deceased have been identified as Chandrakala, her 16-year-old grandson Lakshman, and her 14-year-old granddaughter Pranitha. Lakshman was a school dropout, while Pranitha was a class IX student.

According to local authorities, the fire broke out at around 12 a.m. inside the family's one-room, asbestos-roofed house. Preliminary police investigations suggest that a short-circuit triggered the initial fire, which was quickly followed by a cooking gas cylinder explosion.

Upon noticing the flames, local residents attempted to extinguish the fire using water and immediately alerted the police, who then informed the fire services department.

As rescue operations were underway, the gas cylinder inside the residence exploded. The force of the blast shattered the asbestos roof sheets and caused portions of the house's walls to collapse, triggering panic in the neighborhood.

Fire department personnel eventually brought the flames under control. Upon entering the ruined structure, they discovered the charred remains of the three family members. Everything inside the house was completely destroyed.

Police suspect that the victims, who had gone to sleep after dinner, were quickly overcome by thick smoke before they could escape the burning building.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajasekhar Raju stated that the bodies of Chandrakala and Pranitha were recovered close to the entrance door, suggesting they made an active attempt to flee the house before succumbing.

Miryalaguda Inspector M Nagabushan Rao shared that the children's mother had left for Pune just a week ago to take up a new job, leaving the grandchildren in Chandrakala's care. The tragedy comes shortly after the death of Chandrakala's husband, who passed away last month due to ill-health.

Upon receiving the news of the deaths of her mother and children, the daughter rushed back from Pune.