A devastating fire tore through a commercial building in Lucknow, India, on Monday, June 23, killing at least 14 people, most of them students. The blaze engulfed a three-storey structure that housed a pet shop and veterinary clinic on the lower floors, with a study centre and an animation studio on the upper levels.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed that 14 bodies had been recovered from the site. Officials reported that at least 10 people were rescued and taken to hospitals for treatment. Videos posted to social media showed desperate individuals climbing out of broken windows to escape the flames. One video appeared to capture a man falling from an upper floor while attempting to flee; local media stated he survived and was hospitalised.
Firefighters and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams battled the blaze, but dense smoke hampered their efforts. They eventually forced entry by breaking through a rear wall. Exhaust fans were brought in to clear the smoke, allowing emergency crews to search rooms and restrooms for survivors.
Context of Fire Safety in India
The cause of the fire remains unknown. This tragedy echoes a similar incident in April, when a fire at the Rituraj Hotel in Kolkata killed at least 14 tourists. Fires are common in India, where builders and residents frequently flout building laws and safety codes. Activists argue that builders often cut corners on safety to reduce costs, accusing civic authorities of negligence and apathy. In 2022, at least 27 people died in a massive fire at a four-storey commercial building in New Delhi.
