A massive fire engulfed a row of townhouses in India, killing at least 17 residents.

The blaze broke out at Gulzar House around 6:30 am on Sunday, May 18, reportedly due to a short circuit on the ground floor. The building housed jewellery shops near the historic Charminar monument in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The fire rapidly spread to the upper residential floors, trapping several families inside the three-story structure.

Dramatic footage shows emergency crews and volunteers struggling side by side to contain the raging fire.

Director General of Telangana Fire Services, Y. Nagi Reddy, said at least 21 people were in the building at the time of the incident.

He added: 'Seventeen people, who were shifted to the hospital in an unconscious state, could not survive. The staircase was very narrow, which made escape difficult. There was only one exit, and the fire had blocked it.'

Authorities reported that an air-conditioning compressor explosion further intensified the flames, complicating rescue efforts. At least 10 others were reportedly injured.

Despite a prompt response by the fire brigade, the GHMC's Disaster Response Force, and local police, thick smoke and the intensity of the blaze severely hampered operations.

An investigation is currently underway to confirm the exact cause of the fire.