An inquiry has been ordered after at least 15 people were killed in a devastating fire that engulfed a commercial building in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, exposing serious lapses in fire safety and triggering fresh concerns over safety standards in densely occupied structures across India.
The victims included trainees and employees who were inside the building when the fire erupted. Witnesses described desperate attempts to escape as trapped occupants jumped from windows and climbed down cables while rescue teams broke through a wall to save lives. Authorities said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed that an investigation had been initiated. "An inquiry has been initiated. Authorities have been directed to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future," he told reporters.
The fire was reported at approximately 14:45 local time on Monday in the densely populated Aliganj area of Lucknow. Officials said the ground floor housed a pet shop, while the two upper floors contained an animation and three-dimensional gaming centre.
Flames and thick smoke engulfed the building's only staircase, cutting off the sole exit and trapping those inside. Firefighters reached the terrace through a neighbouring building and breached a side wall to launch rescue operations.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as people trapped inside struggled to escape the spreading smoke. Some climbed down power cables while others leaped from windows. Several people were seen pleading for help from inside the building, and dozens sustained injuries.
Anurag Ojha, who witnessed the incident, said he noticed a foul smell before discovering the blaze. "I was resting in my room and there was a foul smell outside. When I looked, there was a huge fire and people were crying for help," he said. He added that residents threw stones at the building's windows to shatter the glass and create additional escape routes.
Another witness, identified only as Aman, told ANI news agency that residents rushed to assist after seeing smoke rising from the building. "We rescued five or six people," he said, adding that one man jumped from the building and suffered serious injuries.
Several victims managed to contact family members while trapped inside. Prabhujyot Singh said his son called him during the fire and pleaded, "Father, there is a fire. Save me, I am trapped inside." He said that by the time he reached the location, it was already too late.
Mohammad Shazan, a 19-year-old trainee at the animation centre, also contacted his family and informed them that he was trapped. His brother said Shazan had taken shelter in a washroom to escape the smoke but was unable to make his way out.
Relatives of some victims alleged that a biometric entry system controlled access to sections of the premises, making evacuation more difficult after the fire broke out.
Police have registered charges related to acts causing or endangering life and arrested four people in connection with the incident. Four public officials have also been suspended.
The Lucknow disaster occurred less than a month after a deadly fire at a bed-and-breakfast establishment in New Delhi claimed several lives, adding to a series of fatal blazes that have highlighted repeated violations of fire safety regulations. The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of safety standards in India's crowded commercial buildings and intensified demands for stricter enforcement to prevent similar disasters.
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