Hyderabad/IBNS: At least 17 people, including a seven-year-old girl and several women, died after a massive fire broke out at a building near Hyderabad's iconic Charminar on Sunday morning, media reports said.

While the cause of the fire is not known yet, it is suspected that a short circuit may have led to the tragedy.

According to a fire department official, they received a call around 6.30 am and rushed to the spot.

Eleven fire engines were rushed to the spot to fight the blaze, and those injured were shifted to hospitals.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said the family affected in the fire lived on top of their shops in the Gulzar House area.

"I met the family members. Such incidents are very sad. I am not accusing anyone, but police, municipality, fire and electricity departments must be made stronger. I was told the firefighters today did not have proper equipment initially. We must bring better technology in the coming days. I will talk to the central government and the Prime Minister and try to get financial help for the families of those who died in this incident," NDTV quoted him as saying.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has expressed shock over the incident and asked officials to step up relief efforts as well as to ensure the best treatment for those injured.

The area where the incident occurred has several jewellery shops and is near the iconic Charminar.

Many of these shops in the area are over a century old and share walls.

Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the bodies have been recovered and sent to hospitals. The state government will share full information soon.