Dhaka, May 18 -- At least 17 people, including eight children, have died after a massive fire broke out in a building in India's Hyderabad.

The incident was reported in a building near Hyderabad's iconic Charminar early on Saturday morning, according to broadcaster NDTV.

While the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be confirmed, authorities suspect an electrical short circuit may have triggered the disaster, NDTV reports.

According to fire department officials, they received an emergency call around 6:30am. Eleven fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy visited the site and met with victims' families.

"I met the family members. Such incidents are very s...