Beyond short circuit: What’s behind Telangana’s repeated fire accidents?

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Tangle of wires near the iconic Charminar in old city of Hyderabad. File | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

As Telangana witnesses a string of devastating fires attributed to “short circuits”, officials and electrical experts say the term often masks a far deeper problem — ageing wiring, overloaded electrical systems, substandard materials and years of neglected maintenance quietly building up behind walls before disaster strikes.

The issue has come into focus following several recent incidents, including the house fire in Miryalguda that triggered a cylinder blast and claimed three lives; a blaze at a helmet shop in Ameerpet and a fatal fire at a residential complex in TNGOs Colony, Gachibowli.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), of the 5,971 fire accidents in the country in 2024, electrical short circuits accounted for 1,042 incidents. The fires claimed 1,012 lives and left 52 people injured.

“People continue using ageing wiring in buildings while adding more air conditioners, refrigerators, lighting systems and other high-power appliances. Eventually, the electrical system is carrying far more load than it was originally designed for,” said a senior official from the State Fire Department.

S. Viswa, a Hyderabad-based electrician, said houses and commercial establishments that are 10 to 15 years old should ideally be assessed for rewiring, but many owners postpone the work because of the cost involved. “They assume the wiring is fine because the lights and fans are still working,” he said.

According to him, a complete high-quality rewiring job for a typical one-bedroom flat could cost between ₹80,000 and ₹90,000 depending on the fittings and appliances involved. The same work can often be completed for ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 using cheaper materials.

“People often ask for the cheapest quotation and say rewiring isn’t necessary. They think we are quoting more to make money. We can only recommend what is safest. The difference ultimately comes down to the quality o