Lucknow: A major fire broke out in the Aliganj area of Lucknow Monday, leaving 15 people dead and nine injured raising questions on safety measures in the commercial building. Most of the victims were men and women aged between 20 and 24 years.
According to officials, the fire erupted suddenly inside a multi-storey commercial building in the afternoon, filling it with dense smoke and flames within minutes. The incident triggered panic among those present, as people scrambled to find escape routes.
Authorities said the ground floor housed a pet shop, while the upper floor was being used as a gaming zone where employees worked on gaming software.
According to witnesses, the fire spread rapidly, trapping many who had taken refuge in a bathroom. Rescue teams later said all accessible occupants had been evacuated.
Several people were seen attempting to escape through balconies and ledges, while one individual reportedly jumped from the building to save his life and was subsequently admitted to a hospital with injuries.
Amit Shukla, who works at a nearby shop, said, “It was a massive fire. Firefighters, police personnel and local residents carried out a major rescue operation and managed to bring the blaze under control after several hours. Some youngsters working at the gaming zone jumped from the windows to save themselves, and a few of them were injured in the process.”
Rajesh Kumar, who was searching for his nephew at the scene, said, ”My nephew worked at the gaming zone office in the building, but we have still not received any information about him. As soon as we heard about the fire, we rushed here and reached within an hour. We saw several young people trapped on the top floor, and some of them even jumped from the building to save themselves.”
A video of the incident also shows a man trying to escape from the burning building through a broken window as thick smoke and flames spread around him. He tried to hold on to a ledge while climbing down but lost his grip and fell on a fence before hitting the ground. People standing nearby quickly rushed to help him and carried him to safety. He was injured in the fall and is currently receiving treatment.
Lucknow Police and district authorities said an investigation into the cause of the fire and possible lapses in safety compliance is underway. Officials said all aspects of the incident are being examined, and accountability will be fixed once the inquiry report is submitted.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said he had heard several people had died the deceased were largely young adults. Authorities are probing the cause of the fire.
Yogi cut short his trip
As the scale of the tragedy became clear, the chief minister ordered a high-level investigation and directed Director General of Police (DGP) and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to visit the site and submit a detailed report. He also indicated that strict action would be taken against those found responsible.
Addressing a public programme in Aligarh, where he had arrived earlier in the day, Yogi expressed grief over the incident and announced that he was cutting short his visit to return to Lucknow.
“It was my heartfelt desire to remain in Aligarh today, but I have just received information about a tragic fire incident in Lucknow in which some children and young people have lost their lives. Therefore, I am immediately returning to Lucknow. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” the CM said.
“I have directed the DGP and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to reach the spot and submit a report. I am also proceeding to Lucknow personally so that the matter can be thoroughly investigated, the guilty can be punished, and condolences can be conveyed to the affected families,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s Office also expressed sorrow over the tragedy and announced financial assistance for the victims’ families. According to the PMO, an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while those injured will receive Rs 50,000 each.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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