Lucknow Blaze Investigation Advances As Officials Confirm Identities Of 15 Victims

Lucknow , 23 June : Authorities have established the identities of 15 individuals who died in the fire that swept through a commercial property in Lucknow’s Aliganj neighbourhood.

Officials have contacted the families of the victims while continuing efforts to identify the remaining deceased.

The victims include Shahjan, Sukhmani Singh, Aditya Srivastava, Jwanil Chakraborty, Sagar Pant, Nilesh, Sayyam, Bhavishya, Jyoti, Abdul Rahman, Anamika Samant, Suraj Singh, Md Ammar, and Teejraj from Lucknow, along with Somalya from South 24 Parganas in West Bengal.

Reports indicate that many of those who died were in their early twenties.

Healthcare professionals at King George’s Medical University are providing treatment to those injured in the incident. Officials identified two survivors receiving care as Lavpreet and Jayant, both from Lucknow.

Investigating agencies have initiated criminal proceedings against people associated with the building. Police registered a case against six named individuals under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Law enforcement personnel detained Ramkrishna Upadhyay, Virendra Prasad Shukla, and Tushank Krishna Jaiswal, who own the property. Officers later arrested Suresh Kumar Sahu, who operated a studio within the premises.

Investigation Points to Serious Safety Deficiencies

Investigators reported that the multi-storey building accommodated a pet shop and veterinary clinic on the lower levels, a gaming and animation facility on the second floor, and an IT networking office on the upper floor.

Preliminary findings suggest that the blaze originated in the pet shop and clinic before smoke rapidly spread throughout the structure.

Several animals housed in the shop also died during the incident.

Authorities identified multiple shortcomings in the building’s safety arrangements, including the absence of adequate fire protection systems and emergency evacuation facilities.

Investigators also noted the lack of smoke ventilation and the presence of only a single access route.

Police allege that those responsible for managing the premises failed to implement mandatory safety measures despite being aware of the risks.

Officials continue to examine the circumstances that led to one of the city’s deadliest fire incidents in recent years.