Hyderabad:
A major fire at a slum near Hyderabad has claimed at least seven lives today. Nearly 100 huts were gutted in the migrant labour colony in Medchel, which is around 30 kilometres from Hyderabad.
Reports suggest the fire broke out after a cylinder blast in the slum, which falls under the Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh.
The dead include four children and two women.
An ex-gratia of Rs 5000 has been announced by the state government to the families of the victims.
Labourers from Bihar, West Bengal and Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh working at a construction site in the area were living in these huts for the last four months.