Lucknow: A day after a massive fire ripped through a three-storey commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, killing 15 people and injuring several others, authorities sealed the premises, registered an FIR and launched multiple investigations into the tragedy.
The victims were mostly students and young professionals associated with an animation training centre and a gaming zone operating inside the building in Purania Sector-D. The blaze broke out around 2pm on Monday, triggering panic among occupants as thick smoke rapidly engulfed the structure.
Eyewitnesses said several people attempted desperate escapes, with some climbing down power cables and others jumping from the building as firefighters struggled to contain the flames. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives. Modi announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also cancelled the remainder of his scheduled visits to Aligarh and Hathras following the incident.
Investigations have revealed that the building was constructed on a plot originally designated for residential use and did not possess a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). According to Lucknow Chief Fire Officer Ankush Mittal, buildings above 15 metres are required to obtain a fire NOC, but the structure fell below that height threshold. He said the operators had never approached the fire department for the certificate.
Following the blaze, Lucknow Police sealed the building and prohibited public entry. Forensic teams and fire department officials are expected to collect evidence from the site as part of the investigation.
Police have registered an FIR under Sections 110, 105, 125 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Uttar Pradesh Fire Service Act. The Uttar Pradesh government has also constituted a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
The tragedy has also brought attention to alleged safety lapses within the building. Reports indicate firefighters faced difficulties accessing the structure through its only entry route, while allegations have emerged that a biometric locking system at the entrance may have delayed the escape of those trapped inside.
The incident has further exposed questions over regulatory oversight by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). Official records show the 1,992 sq ft property was purchased in 2013 by brothers Virendra and Surendra and approved in 2014 for residential use. Despite this, it continued functioning as a commercial establishment housing an animation institute and gaming facilities.
Adding to the controversy, records show the building was issued a demolition order in 2016 over unauthorised construction. Originally allotted to Vijay Kumar in 1980 under a hire-purchase scheme, the property changed ownership before being sold to Virendra Pratap Shukla and Surendra Pratap Shukla in 2013. Although a demolition order was issued in May 2016 after unauthorised construction was detected, the decision was reversed within two months, raising questions about how the reversal was granted.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. While officials initially suggested that a short circuit in an LED billboard installed in the basement may have triggered the blaze, Uttar Pradesh Development and Energy Minister A.K. Sharma said the fire could have originated in the building’s air-conditioning duct. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said a high-level inquiry had been ordered to determine the cause of the fire and identify any lapses that contributed to the disaster.
