A tragic fire erupted Monday night in the Aliganj neighbourhood of Lucknow, killing 15 people and leaving the building – a pet shop on the ground floor and a two‑story animation centre above – scorched and reduced to a smoldering ruin.
Firefighters battled thick smoke that swallowed the only staircase, cutting off the single exit. Reporters witnessed people leaping from windows and climbing down power cables to escape.
The incident has exposed long‑standing cracks in fire‑safety enforcement, with the structure lacking dedicated emergency exits and a biometric entry system hindering quick evacuation.
Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak announced that an official inquiry has been launched and ordered authorities to tighten building‑safety protocols to prevent a repeat tragedy.
The blaze comes a month after another deadly fire at a Delhi bed‑and‑breakfast, reflecting a worrying trend of neglected or ignored fire regulations in densely populated commercial buildings across India.
