A devastating fire that tore through a commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area on Monday left at least 15 people dead, including several children, triggering a massive rescue operation and raising fresh concerns over fire safety standards in crowded urban establishments.
The blaze broke out in a three-storey building on Usha Mehta Marg, trapping dozens inside. By the time firefighters and emergency responders managed to bring the situation under control, multiple lives had already been lost and several others had suffered injuries.
Among the victims were a number of children who had reportedly been present in the building when the fire spread. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that around a dozen children were among those killed. He announced that a high-level inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the incident and identify any lapses.
The building housed a pet shop on the ground floor and a graphic animation training centre on the upper levels. As rescue teams combed through the premises, they managed to save several animals. However, multiple pets, including dogs and cats, died after being trapped in the smoke and flames.
At the Trauma Centre of King George’s Medical University (KGMU), doctors worked to treat survivors brought in from the site. According to Medical Superintendent Dr. Anil Agrawal, over twenty children were rushed to the hospital following the incident. While five injured children were admitted for treatment, 15 victims were declared dead on arrival.
Some of the survivors sustained injuries while attempting to escape. Two children who reportedly jumped from the building suffered back injuries and underwent medical examinations, officials said.
The scale of the tragedy prompted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to cut short an official visit to Aligarh and return to Lucknow to review rescue and relief measures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of life and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He also announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Political leaders across party lines reacted to the incident. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described the fire as a deeply tragic event and called for a transparent investigation into its causes. He urged authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured while stressing the need for stronger safeguards to prevent similar disasters in the future.
As rescue teams continued operations late into the evening, questions remained over how the fire spread so rapidly and whether adequate safety measures were in place inside the building. The inquiry ordered by the state government is expected to examine these issues in the coming days.
