A Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Praveen Kumar, established by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has commenced an inquiry into the tragic fire that resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals in Lucknow’s Aliganj area. The team, along with law enforcement personnel, meticulously examined the severely burned building to identify safety breaches that transformed it into a hazardous environment for students.
Prior to the SIT’s arrival, a team of Forensic experts also visited the scene to scrutinize the building for potential forensic evidence. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team meticulously surveyed the site to determine the cause of the fatal blaze, investigating potential factors at the three-story structure in Aliganj.
The devastating fire, which erupted on Monday afternoon, engulfed a residential building that had been unlawfully converted into a commercial establishment in North Lucknow. Tragically, the blaze resulted in the loss of 18 lives and inflicted severe injuries on numerous others, particularly students who were trapped on the building’s second floor.
As the fire rapidly spread through the building, hindering escape routes, two individuals attempted to leap from the structure, sustaining critical injuries and currently receiving medical care at a trauma center. Initial findings suggest that the fire originated in the building’s air conditioning duct, with thick smoke causing suffocation due to the absence of proper exits within the premises.
The building’s owners are now under scrutiny for violating construction regulations and are expected to face legal consequences following their apprehension. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally visited the site to assess the situation and later met with the injured victims at the hospital.
