- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Building illegally converted from residential to multi-storey commercial use.
- Lacked mandatory fire safety NOCs and proper electrical approvals.
- Excessive electrical load and blocked exits contributed to the tragedy.
The devastating fire in Lucknow's Aliganj area, which claimed 15 lives, has brought several government departments under scrutiny, including the district administration, police, electricity department, Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and the Municipal Corporation.
Preliminary findings suggest that the building in Sector D of Aliganj, where the fire broke out, had approval only for a ground-floor residential structure. However, a four-storey commercial building was allegedly constructed and operated from the premises.
Investigators have also found that the building did not possess mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Fire Department and Electrical Safety Department.
Despite the absence of the required clearances, multiple commercial activities were reportedly being conducted from the building. According to available records, Virendra Prasad Shukla, son of Surendra Prasad Shukla, was operating a pet shop and gaming zone along with other business establishments from the premises. Authorities have also noted that the building had only a common entry and exit point despite housing multiple commercial units.
Officials are examining how such operations continued without intervention from regulatory agencies. The building reportedly had a sanctioned electricity load of 20 kilowatts but was allegedly consuming around 35.50 kilowatts.
Records further indicate that the land on which the building stands is registered in the name of Virendra Shukla, while the building plan was approved in the names of Surendra Shukla and Dhirendra Shukla. Virendra Shukla is also said to be associated with Rameshwaram Institute of Technology.
No Emergency Exit, Occupants Trapped Inside
Investigators have found that the building lacked emergency exits. Reports suggest that access to the first-floor office was controlled through a thumb-impression-based locking system. During the fire, the gate allegedly locked automatically, trapping people inside the smoke-filled structure.
Several occupants reportedly risked their lives by climbing down from the building while holding onto electrical cables after conventional escape routes became inaccessible.
Questions Raised Over Licensing And Safety Compliance
The building reportedly did not possess a valid fire NOC or building safety certificate. Despite this, commercial activities continued to function from the premises.
Sources said notices had been issued in February 2025 to several institutions in the area, including establishments operating from this building, and recommendations were made for licence cancellations. However, operations allegedly continued even after the notices were served.
Reports also indicate that more than half a dozen air conditioners were running inside the building despite the heavy electrical load and extreme summer temperatures.
Fire Safety Violations Under Scanner
The tragedy has also exposed rampant violations of fire safety guidelines by the commercial entities. Some coaching centres were allegedly running from buildings that had just one entry and exit, which would make rescue efforts difficult in case of exigency.
It was further said that some of these premises did not have even a fire extinguisher, or the ones in place had expired. The coaching centres operating from the upper floors of buildings were mostly devoid of any ventilation and had no emergency exits or emergency plan.
The risk is further heightened in mixed-use buildings where pet shops, clinics, gaming zones and coaching centres function under one roof, creating multiple fire hazards.
How The Fire Spread
Preliminary findings indicate that the fire originated on the ground floor of either Drools Aliganj Pet Shop or an adjacent unit at approximately 3 pm. The likely cause has been determined as either a short circuit or an electrical failure.
Smoke and fire quickly began spreading to the upper levels of the building, where Head Hopper Studio (a 3D art production firm providing outsourcing services for games) and Learning Space (a coaching centre cum library facility) were functioning.
Those trapped on upper floors of the building, primarily students and young working professionals, found themselves trapped in a deadly inferno as the stairway was choked with fumes and no exits could be used for safe egress, thus quickly turning it into an impending inferno.
Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident and are examining possible negligence, illegal construction and safety violations that may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy.