Four arrested following deadly fire in Lucknow building, CM visits site, PM condoles
Police have arrested four individuals in connection with a fire that broke out in a three-storey building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people.
The accused have been identified as Ram Krishna Upadhyay, Virendra Prasad Shukla, Tushok Krishna Jaiswal and Suresh Kumar Sahu.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site and announced compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of those who died and ₹50,000 for each injured person. He also ordered the formation of a two-member Special Investigation Team to examine the causes of the tragedy.
Initial findings suggest the fire may have originated in an air-conditioning duct. Authorities believe smoke spread rapidly through the structure, leading to suffocation, while the absence of adequate escape routes may have worsened the situation. Possible violations of building regulations are expected to be investigated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the loss of life and announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for those injured.
Rescue teams worked through neighboring buildings and created openings in walls to gain access to trapped occupants. Officials indicated that rescue operations continued as authorities searched for any remaining survivors.
Chief Minister Adityanath cut short a visit to Aligarh after learning of the incident and returned to Lucknow to monitor rescue efforts personally. He directed officials to provide all necessary support to affected families and ensure quality medical treatment for the injured.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak stated that rescue teams were prioritizing the safe evacuation of all occupants, especially children, and reported that most had already been rescued.