Lucknow Fire: 3 Arrested, 4 Suspended, 16 Officials Under Scanner As SIT To Start Probe Today | Top Updates

Lucknow Fire: Following a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, swift action has been initiated in connection with the massive fire that broke out in a three-storey illegal commercial building in Aliganj, Lucknow, on Monday. The incident claimed the lives of 15 people, while several others remained injured.

Police have registered a case against three accused, including the building owner, and all three have been arrested. The arrested individuals have been identified as Virendra Prasad Shukla, Ramakrishna Upadhyay, and Tushar Krishna Jaiswal. Authorities have also named three additional persons in the case.

Arrests And FIR Against Building Owner And Associates

A case has been filed at Aliganj police station against Virendra Prasad Shukla, Ramakrishna Upadhyay and Tushar Krishna Jaiswal. All three have been taken into custody. Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway, and more arrests may follow.

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The accused were booked after it was revealed that the building was operating as a commercial complex despite being approved as a residential structure.

4 Officials Suspended

The administration has also suspended several officials across key departments. Among those suspended are Gaurav Kumar (XEN, Connections, Energy Department, Jankipuram) and Kamalendra Kumar Singh (FSSO, Indiranagar Fire Station). Kamalendra Kumar Singh was in charge of the fire station under whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.

Additionally, LDA junior engineers Anil Kumar and Pramod Pandey have also been suspended as part of the ongoing accountability process.

Two-Member SIT Formed

A two-member SIT has been formed at the CM's direction to investigate the incident and submit a report to the CM within seven days. The two-member SIT includes Amrit Abhijat, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Charitable and Culture Department, and Praveen Kumar, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone. 

Building Violations And Illegal Construction Exposed

Investigations revealed that the original map of the building was approved for residential use, but it was later converted into a multi-storey commercial complex without proper clearance.

The building, owned by Virendra Shukla (Rameshwaram Group), was constructed in violation of approved land-use norms. While the plan was sanctioned in the names of Surendra Pratap and Dhirendra Pratap, commercial activities, including a pet shop, gaming zone and other establishments, were being operated from the premises.

Officials noted that although the Municipal Corporation began collecting commercial taxes from 2014 onwards, enforcement action against illegal conversion was not taken for several years.

Key Lapses In Fire And Safety Compliance

The building, allegedly, has various safety violations, such as a fire NOC missing, poor ventilation systems, no provision for emergency exits and common entry and exits were found in the structure, officials claimed. 

Moreover, a high electrical load was detected at the building, 35.50 kW against the sanction of 20 kW. During the inferno, many were trapped inside, and reports indicate that the smoke had spread quickly. Some occupants could be seen escaping by jumping from the first floor of the building.

Land And Approval Irregularities Under Scrutiny

Records show that the property was originally allotted in 1980 through a lottery and later transferred in 2013 to Virendra Prasad Shukla and Surendra Pratap Shukla. Despite a notice issued by LDA in 2016 regarding illegal multi-storey construction, no demolition or sealing action was taken.

Investigations also revealed that basement and floor constructions exceeded permissible limits, with violations in setback norms and building height regulations.

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Administrative Responsibility Under Question

Multiple departments are now under scrutiny for negligence:

* LDA officials: Alleged failure to act on illegal construction and the 2016 notice

* Municipal Corporation: Allowed commercial use and tax classification despite violations

* District Administration: Questions raised over monitoring of safety norms in crowded commercial spaces

* Police Department: Alleged failure in addressing overcrowding and blocked exits

* Fire Department: Under scrutiny for the absence of a valid NOC verification

A report against 16 LDA officials has reportedly been prepared and will be submitted to the government.

Following the incident, high-rise properties underwent higher scrutiny from officials. Nearly 30 per cent of the 307 properties examined were found to have irregularities, and notices were slapped against 81 establishments in different enforcement areas.

Officials have stated that responsibility is being fixed at multiple levels, and further legal and departmental action is expected as the investigation continues into violations, approvals, and safety lapses that led to the tragedy.