A devastating fire broke out on Monday in a three‑storey commercial building in Lucknow’s densely populated Aliganj area, killing at least 15 people and leaving several others injured.
The building combined a pet shop on its ground floor with an animation and 3D gaming centre on the upper two floors. Rescue teams had to break through a side wall to reach trapped occupants, as the only staircase—acting as the sole exit—was engulfed in flames and smoke.
Witnesses described harrowing scenes of panic: people climbing down power cables, throwing stones to break glass windows, and shouting for help from windows while the building’s biometric entry system further impeded evacuation. Some victims managed to call relatives before the situation proved fatal.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak announced that a formal inquiry had been launched and ordered authorities to enforce tighter fire‑safety rules. Four suspects were arrested, and four public officials were suspended while investigations continue.
The tragedy follows a recent blaze at a Delhi bed‑and‑breakfast that also claimed lives, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive fire‑safety inspections across urban India.
Images are courtesy of Getty Images.
