Lucknow fire: FIR cites illegal commercial use, single exit in building that killed 15

Police arrested four people after the FIR alleged illegal commercial use, fire safety violations and the absence of emergency exits in the building.

Lucknow fire tragedy, before and after photo of the building. Photo: PTI
4 min read  |  Published: 23 Jun 2026

Lucknow: The FIR filed over the Aliganj building fire in Lucknow that killed 15 people alleges the premises were operating as a commercial establishment without adequate fire safety measures, emergency exits or proper smoke ventilation, police said.The FIR, lodged at Aliganj police station under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (rash or negligent act endangering human life) and provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Act, names four accused persons and others.Police said building owner Virendra Prasad Shukla (62), pet shop operator Ram Krishna Upadhyay (43), animation centre operator Tushar Krishna Jaiswal (31) and Suresh Kumar Sahoo have been arrested. The FIR also names other unidentified persons allegedly responsible for the incident.According to the FIR, the three-storey building housed a pet shop and clinic, a video gaming zone and 3D animation centre, and an IT networking office. The fire broke out around 2.30 pm on June 22 at the pet shop and clinic, following which firefighters, SDRF, NDRF and police personnel carried out rescue operations.The complaint alleged that the building owners and persons associated with the establishments had failed to provide adequate fire safety measures. It stated there was only one main entry and exit route, with no emergency exit or entry, while the electrical arrangements were "highly irregular" and there was no system to allow smoke to escape. It also alleged that air-conditioner outdoor units and electrical equipment had been installed in an unsafe manner, with no safety measures in place to deal with emergencies.According to the FIR, these shortcomings forced firefighters, police and disaster response teams to cut through walls to enter the building and rescue those trapped."The owners and managers were aware that in such emergencies, lives could be lost, but despite this, negligence was shown, and the lives of others were put at risk," the FIR alleged.The blaze killed 15 people, most of them students, due to suffocation and burn injuries, while nine others were injured and admitted to the King George's Medical University (KGMU) Trauma Centre, the FIR said.A further police investigation is underway. Separately, the Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), which began its probe on Tuesday morning.The SIT will submit its report to the government within seven days, panel member ADG Lucknow Zone Praveen Kumar told reporters.

To advertise here,contact us