Lucknow, Jul 25 (PTI) The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) on Saturday began demolishing the four-storey building where a fire killed 15 people last month after finding that large portions of the structure had been illegally constructed and converted for commercial use.
LDA teams, accompanied by the local police, reached the site with three bulldozers on Saturday morning. Barricades were put up and roads around the building were closed before the demolition exercise began.
The demolition continued well into the night.
According to LDA, the building had originally been sanctioned as a residential structure comprising a basement and two floors. However, it was converted into a commercial establishment with unauthorised construction, including an additional floor, and violated mandatory setback norms.
The authority issued a notice to the owners on June 23 under the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, asking them to establish the legality of the construction.
Following hearings, the construction was pronounced illegal. On July 10, the authority ordered demolition of the unauthorised portions by July 25.
On June 22, a fire broke out in an office on the second floor of the building, killing 15 people who were trapped inside. Five persons managed to escape by climbing down through pipes and wires.
The tragedy triggered multiple investigations into alleged violations of building and fire safety norms.
The police have arrested four people, including building owner Virendra Prasad Shukla and the operator of the animation centre that functioned from the premises.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also suspended four officials from the electricity department, fire department and the LDA in connection with the incident. PTI CDN NAV VN VN
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