Local police believe the building's deteriorating structure, worsened by recent heavy rainfall, may have caused the collapse. Some of the injured are in critical condition, senior police officer Amit Kumar told the Press Trust of India.
The Court of Appeal ruling states that building owners and developers cannot recoup costs from leaseholders for fire safety remediation work. This significant decision has ramifications for who bears the financial burden of building safety-related costs moving forward. In light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, safety issues were identified in older buildings. The ruling specifies that building owners cannot charge leaseholders for fire safety defects discovered prior to 2022, with the retrospective application of the Building Safety Act 2022 favoring leaseholders and residents.
The accident happened due to a short circuit and many people have died, federal minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader G Kishan Reddy told reporters at the site of the accident. The director general of Telangana fire services, Y Nagi Reddy, told reporters that 21 people were in the three-story building when the fire started on the ground floor. 17 people, who were shifted to the hospital in an unconscious state, could not survive. The staircase was very narrow, which made escape difficult.
A spokesperson for the Five Rivers Bar Grill & Restaurant expressed regret over the closure, stating, 'We regret to inform our valued customers that our establishment is currently closed due to an ongoing dispute with the building landlords regarding the structural integrity and safety of the building.' The management reassured customers that they are monitoring the situation with support from local authorities.