Lucknow Fire Tragedy: Unraveling the Controversial History of the Building

A Devastating Incident in Lucknow

In a tragic incident in Lucknow, a fire in a three-storey commercial building resulted in the loss of 15 lives. The Uttar Pradesh government revealed that this building had been ordered for demolition back in 2016 due to unauthorized construction, but this order was surprisingly revoked just two months later.

Situated in the upscale Aliganj Scheme's Sector D, the property was originally allocated to Vijay Kumar on July 11, 1980, through a lottery-based hire-purchase scheme.

The allotment agreement was executed on November 4, 1980, and the property was handed over to Kumar.

In 2005, Vijay Kumar and his wife, Usha, registered the property in their names via a sale deed, later selling it to Virendra Pratap Shukla and Surendra Pratap Shukla on January 19, 2013.

The Lucknow Development Authority finalized the mutation process in favor of the new owners on August 7, 2014.

The building, covering around 1,992 square feet, received approval for a residential building plan on August 20, 2014, under a self-certification scheme.

However, unauthorized construction was later discovered, prompting the Lucknow Development Authority to file a case against Virendra Pratap Shukla.

A demolition order was issued on May 10, 2016, but this was revoked on July 5, 2016, raising concerns about the decision-making process.

The fire incident has left at least 15 individuals dead, including students, with seven others injured. Most victims were trapped on the second floor, where classes were being held at an animation center. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Eyewitnesses reported that several people jumped from the building, which was engulfed in flames. The structure also contained a pet clinic.

To combat the blaze, 14 fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, were dispatched to the scene after the fire was reported around 3 PM.