Building fire kills 17, injures others in southern India

At least 17 people died and several were injured after a fire broke out in a building near Hyderabad’s historic Charminar monument on Sunday. The blaze, caused by a short circuit, began in a jewelry store on the ground floor of the three-story building, which also housed residents. A narrow staircase and a single exit blocked by fire made escape difficult. Prime Minister Modi expressed sorrow and announced compensation for victims’ families, CNN has reported. Fires are frequent in India due to lax enforcement of safety regulations.