Lucknow fire tragedy: 3 arrested as regulatory lapses come under scrutiny after blaze kills 15

A devastating fire in Lucknow's Aliganj area on Monday claimed 15 lives, most of them students, and left several others injured. The blaze broke out in a three-storey building on Usha Mehta Marg that housed an animation training centre, a pet shop and a clinic.

Following the tragedy, police arrested four co-owners of the building, while the Uttar Pradesh government suspended four officials from the development, fire and electricity departments over alleged negligence.

The fire reportedly started around 3 pm, with preliminary findings suggesting it originated in the building's central air-conditioning duct. Thick smoke quickly spread through the structure, trapping students on the upper floors.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire department launched a large-scale operation. In some cases, rescuers had to break through the walls of neighbouring buildings to reach those trapped inside.

More from India

Authorities said the building was originally approved for residential use under the Lucknow Development Authority's (LDA) self-certification scheme in 2014 but was later converted into a commercial complex.

Building was once ordered to be demolished

Investigators have found records showing that the building had a history of regulatory violations.

According to LDA documents, extensive unauthorised construction was carried out after the property changed hands in 2013. In 2016, the authority registered a case against one of the owners and issued a demolition order for the illegal portions of the structure.

However, less than two months later, the demolition order was revoked after the owners challenged it, claiming they had not been given a proper hearing and that the construction complied with regulations.

Officials are now examining how the demolition order was overturned and whether any lapses contributed to the tragedy.

Four owners arrested, officials suspended

An FIR has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Act.

Police have arrested four building owners, namely, Ram Krishna Upadhyay, Virendra Prasad Shukla, Tushar Krishna Jaiswal and Suresh Kumar Sahu.

The state government has also suspended four officials pending investigation. They include Anil Kumar (Assistant Engineer, LDA), Pramod Kumar (Junior Engineer, LDA), Kamlendra Kumar Singh (Fire Station Safety Officer), and Gaurav Kumar (Executive Engineer, Electricity Department)

SIT probe ordered

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath went to Lucknow and ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident.

Officials noted that the building's commercial use itself may have violated local regulations, as it was located on an 18-metre-wide road, below the 24-metre minimum width required for commercial complexes in the area.

The state government has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those killed. An additional Rs 2 lakh will be provided from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Injured victims will receive Rs 50,000 in assistance for medical treatment.