Hyderabad, May 18 -- A preliminary examination into the fire at a building at Hyderabad's Gulzar House in which at least 17 people lost their lives indicated that a short circuit caused the massive blaze, a fire department official said on Sunday.

Telangana Disaster Response and Fire Services DG, Y Nagi Reddy, said, "The preliminary examination shows that the cause was a short circuit."

The cause of death of all the 17 people was smoke inhalation, "nobody had burn injuries," Reddy said.

"There was a fire incident in Krishna Pearls shop and the residential complex in Gulzar House area. The Fire department received the call at 6:16 am and dispatched 11 fire engines with sufficient staff by 6:17 am... The fire department used breathing op...