LUCKNOW: Burnt-out shops, soot-laden stairways, and a gaping hole in a wall bear testament to the horrific aftermath of Monday’s deadly blaze that ripped through a three-storey building on Usha Mehta Marg in north Lucknow, claiming 15 lives.
The ill-fated building wore the look of a ghost town on Tuesday morning as inspection teams took stock of the widespread devastation. All three floors of the structure have been completely destroyed, with burnt wires and charred furniture lying scattered across the premises.
On the ground floor, a pet shop was completely gutted, leaving half-burnt packets of pet food scattered across the floor and air conditioning units destroyed. The once-bustling staircase is now caked in thick soot, a grim reminder of the tragedy that unfolded on Monday afternoon.
Trapped by Electronic Locks
The worst damage was recorded on the second floor, where the fire is believed to have originated. A computer training centre operating on this floor, where dozens of students attended classes to learn job skills, was reduced to ashes. The mangled remains of computers and melted furniture fill the space where the maximum number of bodies were recovered.
According to officials, the casualties mounted after an electronic lock on the door next to the centre jammed when the fire broke out. The door relied on a biometric system operating on thumb impressions of students and staff. When the fire snapped the power and electronic systems, the lock failed, trapping everyone inside.
While most of the victims died of suffocation, several students managed to jump from a corner window to save their lives.
Casualties and Safety Failures
The tragedy resulted in 15 fatalities, predominantly students attending classes at the training hub. Several others sustained injuries, with some reported to be in critical condition due to toxic smoke inhalation or injuries suffered while jumping from the upper floors.
Preliminary investigations have highlighted major safety lapses. The building lacked an emergency exit, and access to the roof was reportedly blocked.
Furthermore, records from the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation reveal that the property was originally sanctioned as a residential building in 2014. It was subsequently converted into a commercial complex without a fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC). Officials noted that because the building stood under 15 metres and comprised only three storeys, it fell below the threshold that legally mandates a fire NOC.
Probe Ordered
The premises have been officially sealed, and teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) alongside the Fire Brigade have commenced evidence collection from the site.
Authorities are currently investigating how a building approved as a house was permitted to run as a commercial centre, who cleared its change of use, and why safety inspections were never conducted despite high daily footfall.
The state government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, and compensation for the families of the deceased is expected to be announced. The tragedy has once again raised serious questions over the enforcement of building codes and fire safety norms in commercial establishments operating out of residential areas in the city.
