Fatal Fire in Lucknow: 15 Killed, Inquiry Ordered

Wed Jun 24 2026 13:08:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A blaze in a Lucknow building struck a pet shop and animation centre, killing 15 people and prompting a formal inquiry.

A midnight fire tore through a multi‑storey building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, killing 15 people and burning a pet shop and a 3‑D animation centre. Rescue crews breached a wall to reach trapped victims, many of whom had no emergency exits. Local officials say the fire’s cause remains unclear but pointed to a lack of safe exits and a biometric‑locked entry system that slowed escape. Four public officials have been suspended and four individuals arrested as authorities launch an investigation. The tragedy has reignited criticism of fire‑safety violations in India’s crowded commercial buildings.

Fatal Fire in Lucknow: 15 Killed, Inquiry Ordered

Firefighters douse the flame in a building that killed 15 in India's Lucknow city

A fire that broke out at about 14:45 local time on Monday in Lucknow’s Aliganj neighbourhood trapped 15 people and gutted a building that housed a pet shop on the ground floor and an animation and 3‑D gaming centre on the upper floors.

Firefighters had to breach a wall of a neighbouring building to reach the terrace because the building’s only staircase, which also served as the sole exit, was filled with smoke.

Witnesses reported people climbing down power cables, jumping from windows, and shouting for help as the blaze took hold. Rescue crews managed to pull out several victims, but the building’s biometric entry lock made it hard for people inside to escape quickly.

Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said investigators have been ordered to check why the fire happened and how the lack of emergency exits contributed to the tragedy.

Four public officials have been suspended and four individuals arrested in connection with the fire. The blaze follows a Delhi B&B fire that killed several people just a month earlier, raising concerns about fire safety in India’s crowded commercial centers.