Grandmother, two grandchildren killed in midnight house fire after gas leak explodes in Miryalaguda

Telangana Police at the site where three members of a family were burnt alive on June 4, 2026 after a fire tore through their house in Kalalwada Colony in Miryalaguda town. Photo: Special arrangement

Three members of a family, including two children, were burnt alive after a fire, believed to be caused by a short circuit and subsequent explosion of a gas leak from a pressure cylinder, tore through their house at Kalalwada Colony in Miryalaguda town late on Thursday (June 4, 2026) night.

The victims have been identified as Vanam Chandramma, 50, and her grandsons, Laxman, 16, and Pranathi, 14.

According to Miryalaguda DSP Rajasekhar, preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit that quickly spread throughout the one-story house before a leak from a cooking gas cylinder exploded. The incident was reported between 11.30pm and midnight.

Residents who noticed flames and smoke billowing from the house alerted the authorities. Police and firemen went to the scene.

Two fire engines and three ambulances attended the scene, but the narrow, densely populated lane slowed access to the house. Firefighters spent precious minutes wading through the congested site before extending hoses into the lane and bringing the fire under control with water and foam.

Investigators said Laxman and Pranathi lived with their grandmother, who took care of them, while their mother worked as a housekeeper at a software employee’s home in Pune. She had just left for Pune a week ago.

“Their parents had separated and the mother traveled regularly from Pune to visit her children. said Mr. Rajshekhar.

Chandramma’s husband had died only a month earlier following medical complications, leaving the grandmother as the children’s primary caregiver.

Police said preliminary findings indicate the victims made a desperate attempt to escape when the fire engulfed the home. Their charred bodies were found near the entrance rather than inside the main living area.

“The bodies were supposed to be in the middle of the room under the fan, but they were found near the threshold. This suggests that they tried to get out but could not escape. The door was badly damaged and remained closed,” the official said.

The bodies were taken for autopsy.

Police are awaiting the arrival of the children’s mother from Pune as they investigate the circumstances that led to the fire. Meanwhile, the Clues team and police officials reached the spot to comb the premises and collect evidence to establish the cause of the fire.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 10:34 IST