Fourteen students were killed after a major fire broke out at an animation centre in a commercial building in the Aliganj area of Lucknow on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak said. Speaking to media at the site, where he had reached to oversee rescue operations, Pathak visibly emotional and speaking in a choking voice said he had personally seen 14 bodies being brought out of the building. Several others were reported injured in the fire, which broke out in a three-storey commercial building that also housed a pet store.
“Fourteen children have lost their lives in the incident. Four injured have been admitted to the KGMU Trauma Centre. Instructions have been issued for a high-level inquiry. Our priority is providing the best possible medical treatment to the injured. Details on how and why the fire broke out will be clear only after the inquiry report,” Pathak said.
Fourteen fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, were deployed to bring the blaze under control after it was reported at around 3 pm from a building on Usha Mehta Marg in the Aliganj area. “The search operation at the site has been completed, and it is confirmed that no more children are trapped. Strict action will be taken against those found responsible, with no leniency. The government has reiterated its full support to the affected families, and all necessary assistance will be provided to them,” Pathak added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and offered condolences to the bereaved families, while praying for the recovery of the injured. He announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Also Read:Lucknow Coaching Centre Fire: Students Jump To Escape Flames, Rescue Operations Underway
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Lok Sabha MP from Lucknow, also offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Aligarh at the time, expressed his condolences and rushed back to the capital.
The fire, which broke out at the animation centre in the Purania locality of Aliganj, triggered panic and a large-scale rescue operation. Teams from the fire brigade, SDRF, police, and district administration rushed to the spot to carry out rescue and evacuation efforts as the blaze spread rapidly, trapping people inside. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Visuals from the scene showed people jumping off the first floor of the building to escape as thick smoke and flames engulfed it.
CM Yogi Adityanath cancelled the remainder of his scheduled visits to Aligarh and Hathras following the incident and directed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna to reach the spot immediately, oversee relief and rescue operations, and submit a preliminary report. He said that on returning to Lucknow, he would personally visit the site and meet the families of the deceased students to offer his condolences.
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