A major fire broke out in a slum area in Gundlapochampalli of Medchal mandal in Rangareddy district on Saturday. So far seven people are reportedly dead and many others injured. Out of the seven dead, four are children and three are aged persons. Preliminary investigations though point out towards exploding of LPG cylinder as the cause of fire, possibility of sabotage can not be ruled out, say the sources. Nearly 100 huts are reporterdly gutted in the fire.

These hutments belong to the labourers who have come from Medak and Mahboobnagar districts in search of livelihood. They have raised these huts in an open area and living in them for some time now. It is said that some local people are threatening them to vacate the open land they have occupied. The incident today happened when all of them left for work leaving behind children and old people. It is suspected that the miscreants might have set fire to the huts and the LPG cylinders might have exploded.

The chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed shock over the incident and ordered the RR district collector to provide adequate relief to the victims. Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, who hails from the same district, immediately reached the spot and monitored the relief activities. The local political leaders and social organizations have demanded for immediate relief and adequate compensation to the victims. They also demanded for a thorough probe and severe punishment for the culprits, in case the huts were delibrately set on fire.