Lucknow fire: How a three-storey building turned into a death trap, killing 15

“Papa, there’s a fire, please save me,” were the last words 23-year-old Sukhmani Singh said to his father before a blaze enveloped a building in northwest Lucknow’s Aliganj area, killing 15 students. Unfortunately, Sukhmani’s father couldn’t reach him in time.

Now, a day after the fire, authorities have uncovered many lapses in safety norms by the building owners, resulting in the arrest of four individuals, including the owners. Additionally, four officials have also been suspended over the fire.

So, what went wrong? What caused the fire? Who are the victims of the blaze? Here’s everything we know and don’t know about the Lucknow fire.

Fire breaks out at Lucknow building

>> On Monday (June 22), a fire broke out at a three-storey building in Lucknow. The building hosted Animation Coaching & Library on the top floor, the Head Hopper Gaming Zone on the first floor, and a pet food store and clinic on the ground floor.

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>> When the fire broke out in the afternoon, classes were going on at the institute. According to reports, the blaze started on the middle floor of the three-storey building and quickly spread to the other two floors.

>> Sources said the terrace was locked, preventing the victims from taking shelter there from the flames and smoke. About a dozen students and others jumped from the building, as shown in videos going viral on social media. It appears that people from the two lower floors were able to escape in time.

>> The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained, but some suggest that a possible explosion in an air-conditioner compressor led to the blaze.

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that broke out at a commercial building in Lucknow, killing 15 people so far. AP

>> After firefighters reached the spot, they had to force their way into the building by breaking through a wall after dense smoke hindered rescue efforts, officials said. Exhaust fans were reportedly brought in to clear the smoke while emergency crews searched rooms for survivors.

Victims of the Lucknow fire

>> Following the blaze, the UP government has released a list of the 24 victims — dead and injured. Of the 24, 15 have died so far.

>> Among those killed was 23-year-old Sukhmani Singh, a game designer at Head Hopper Gaming Zone. His father, Prabhjot Singh, said his son called him around 2 pm, pleading for help. “‘Papa mujhe bacha lo (Papa, please save me)’, he cried. He told us there was no space to get out,” the father said.

>> Another victim was Joyneel Chakravorty (27), who also worked at the centre. His relative, Vishwanath Sarkar, said, “Joyneel called his aunt around 2 pm in a state of panic. ‘Chachi, hum phans gaye hain, kisi tarah bachao (Aunt, we’re trapped, please save us somehow),’ he told her.”

Rescue workers carry a victim on a stretcher after a fire broke out at a coaching centre in Lucknow. AP

>> Eighteen-year-old Sehjan, the only child of Mohammad Imran, was also among the victims. A resident of Jankipuram, he came from a small business family and had been attending computer coaching classes for the last one to two years. According to family members, Sehjan had been planning to move abroad in pursuit of better opportunities.

>> Family and friends of Aditya Srivastava, a 25-year-old who had been a student of the animation centre and now worked there, were in deep mourning after hearing of their loss. Friends described him as passionate about creating 3D characters.

> In his final moments, Aditya managed to call a friend. “Bhai, mujhe bacha lo (Brother, save me),” he pleaded, according to the friend. The friend immediately alerted authorities, but help could not reach him in time.

Safety measures ignored, glaring lapses recorded in Lucknow fire

>> Following the fire, authorities noted that there were many issues with the building that contributed to making the blaze deadly.

> Firstly, the three-story building had a single access for three different entities. Additionally, this route was lined with air-conditioning panels, tangled wires, and other equipment, leaving those inside with little room to escape once the fire spread.

>> The structure also had a single narrow staircase linking the upper floors to the ground floor and basement, further limiting movement as smoke filled the premises.

>> Officials have also flagged issues with the building’s entrance. Access was controlled through a thumb-impression mechanism. However, according to authorities, when the fire broke out, the electronic system reportedly stopped functioning and the automatic lock jammed, leaving people trapped inside.

>> Questions have also been raised as to how commercial enterprises were being run from the building, which was originally sanctioned as a residential property. Records from the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and house tax documents of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation show that the building was approved as a house, not a commercial establishment.

>> Investigators have discovered that the property, owned by brothers Virendra Prasad Shukla, Surendra Shukla, and Dhirendra Shukla, was allegedly converted into a commercial complex despite receiving approval for residential use. Authorities said the conversion is believed to have taken place in 2014.

>> Additionally, authorities found alleged unauthorised construction at the site and registered a case against Virendra Pratap Shukla. After examining the matter, the competent authority passed a demolition order on May 10, 2016.

>> But that order was set aside on July 5, 2016, less than two months later, with no specific reason being given for the withdrawal.

Arrests and more… The path forward

>> Following the fire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

> Meanwhile, the Lucknown Police have sealed the building with the forensic and fire departments now collecting evidence from the site. The police have also registered an FIR under Sections 110, 105, 125, and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Uttar Pradesh Fire Service Act. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

>> The officials have arrested four owners of the building, reported news agency PTI, adding that four government authorities have also been suspended in the matter.

>> Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna has asserted that the state government would not spare anyone found guilty, irrespective of their position. Speaking to ANI, Khanna said, “Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty, regardless of their position. The chief minister has already issued directives to take action against those responsible. An FIR will be lodged, an investigation will be conducted, and action will follow.”

With inputs from agencies