Hyderabad, May 19 -- Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has said the Hyderabad fire mishap which claimed the lives of 17 people was an act of "criminal negligence" and demanded that the Revanth Reddy government announce at least Rs 25 lakh for each family that had lost their loved ones.

He cited concerns of family members of the deceased, saying that the fire brigade and emergency personnel involved in rescue operations must be provided with proper training, given that it was absent.

"This is criminal negligence...This is the largest fire incident to have happened in Hyderabad's history. 17 people have lost their lives. Family members are saying that the proper training needs to be given to the fire brigade...