At least 15 people, most of them students and young professionals linked to an animation training institute and gaming zone, lost their lives after a massive fire swept through a three-storey commercial building in Purania Sector-D of Lucknow’s Aliganj area on Monday afternoon. More than a dozen others suffered serious injuries, officials said.

Authorities believe the fire started around 2 pm due to a short circuit in an LED billboard installed in the basement. The flames spread rapidly, filling the building with thick smoke and blocking the only entry and exit route, leaving many occupants trapped inside.

Most of the victims were between 20 and 25 years old. They included students enrolled at the animation training centre, trainers and others present at the gaming facility operating inside the building.

Panic and Desperate Escape Attempts

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as people struggled to escape the burning structure.

Videos from the site showed several occupants attempting risky escapes. Some climbed down electric wires, while others jumped from the building to avoid the spreading flames. Rescue teams worked for hours to bring the situation under control and evacuate those trapped inside.

One student reportedly survived by jumping from the first floor onto a metal grille below. He sustained serious injuries but managed to escape. A video of the incident later circulated widely on social media, highlighting the severity of the disaster.

Fire Safety Concerns Under Investigation

Officials said the building had originally been approved for residential use but was functioning as a commercial complex. According to Lucknow Chief Fire Officer Ankush Mittal, the structure did not possess a fire No Objection Certificate (NoC).

The officer explained that such certificates are mandatory for buildings taller than 15 metres, while this building fell below that limit. “The operators had not approached us for the NoC,” he said.

Following directions from the Uttar Pradesh government, authorities formed a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the tragedy. Investigators are examining whether violations of building regulations and inadequate fire safety measures contributed to the high death toll.

Commercial Activities Operated Inside Residential Property

Officials said the basement, ground floor and first floor housed a pet shop and a clinic. The second floor contained an animation training centre and gaming zone known as ‘Learning Space: Head Hopper Studio,’ which specializes in 3D art production and game asset outsourcing.

The fire exposed major concerns about how a property approved for residential use was allowed to operate commercially for years.

Firefighters Battle Blaze for Hours

Firefighters faced a difficult operation as the flames spread rapidly through the building. Around 15 to 16 fire tenders were deployed to the scene. It took more than four hours to completely extinguish the fire and secure the area.

Prime Minister Announces Compensation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and announced financial assistance through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the families of those who died will receive ₹2 lakh each, while injured victims will receive ₹50,000.

CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Strict Action

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short his visit to Aligarh and returned to Lucknow after receiving information about the fire. He visited the accident site, reviewed rescue operations and later met injured victims at the KGMU Trauma Centre.

The chief minister assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for the tragedy. The Chief Minister’s Office also announced compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for every injured person.

Rajnath Singh Promises Accountability

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also visited the site after arriving in Lucknow. After receiving a briefing from Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Singh stressed that those responsible would be held accountable. “responsibility will be fixed” for those accountable for the fire tragedy in Lucknow. Pathak said emergency medical teams and ambulances were immediately deployed to assist victims.

“The injured are being shifted to hospital and officials have been instructed to provide proper treatment. Six ambulances and medical teams are on the spot. I pray God helps the injured in speedy recovery,” he wrote on X. He also confirmed that a high-level inquiry had been ordered.

Hospitals Receive Victims

Between 20 and 21 people were taken to the Trauma Centre at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) after the incident. According to Dr Prem Raj Singh, Chief Medical Superintendent of the hospital, 15 victims were declared dead upon arrival.

Five to six injured individuals were admitted for treatment, and doctors said their condition remained stable. After legal formalities, authorities began transferring the bodies to the mortuary for post-mortem examinations.

Residential Plot Converted Into Commercial Complex

The tragedy has raised serious questions about regulatory oversight and enforcement by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). Official records show that the 1,992-square-foot property was purchased in 2013 by two brothers, Virendra and Surendra. Authorities approved the building plan in 2014 strictly for residential use.

Despite this approval, the structure eventually operated as a commercial complex. Regulations require commercial complexes to be located on roads at least 24 metres wide. However, the property stands on an 18-metre-wide road, making commercial use a violation of existing rules.

LDA Vice-Chairman Prathamesh Kumar acknowledged that the building was operating in violation of approved plans. He stated that the sanctioned map was residential, making the current commercial use a clear breach of regulations.

Investigation Underway

As rescue efforts conclude, investigators are focusing on the causes behind the tragedy and the alleged violations that may have worsened its impact.

The SIT inquiry is expected to examine the building’s conversion from residential to commercial use, the absence of adequate safety measures, and whether authorities failed to act despite apparent violations. The findings could determine accountability for one of Lucknow’s deadliest recent fire disasters.