A major fire at a furniture store in Nampally entered its second day on January 25, 2026, with firefighters still fighting flames in the store's cellar. Over 19 hours after the blaze started, five people remain feared trapped in the two-level cellar spread across -1 and -2 floors. The cellar is packed with furniture and other stored goods, making rescue challenging. Fire Officer-II Ajmeera Sreedas explained, "There are only two access points to the cellar - one staircase inside the shop, which had already been blocked by the owners, and a narrow ramp from the outside." He said the ramp, used to move materials, caught fire and collapsed, sealing the only outside entry. After the fire began, two people reportedly tried to rescue three others inside the cellar via the ramp. However, burning debris fell and trapped all five inside. Officials warn that identifying any recovered bodies will be difficult due to fire damage. To reach the basement, earthmovers are excavating large holes in the building’s outer walls to create ventilation as thick smoke continues to pour out. Firefighters are also cutting through the front of the shop to open alternate routes for smoke and heat to escape. The fire is hard to control because the cellar stores inflammable materials like furniture and mattresses, which fuelled the blaze. So far, 17 firefighting vehicles including a bronto skylift and a robot have been involved. Over 70 firefighters, including senior officials, are working in shifts focusing on cooling and debris removal. Experts from Nagpur and engineering specialists from JNTU are expected to visit the site to examine the fire's cause. Rescue operations and firefighting efforts are ongoing with hopes of saving those trapped.