Lucknow Aliganj fire puts revoked order in focus
The major fire that broke out at a three-storey building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area has brought an old demolition order back into public focus. The blaze, reported on Monday afternoon at Usha Mehta Marg, killed 15 people and left several others injured, turning attention toward possible building violations and fire safety failures.
The building was being used for commercial activity, including an animation training centre and a pet clinic. However, official records indicate that the property had originally been approved for residential use. This mismatch between approved use and actual use has become a key point in the ongoing probe, especially as students and other occupants were present inside when smoke and flames spread through the structure.
Old LDA action under scrutiny
The property is located on a plot measuring around 1,992 square feet in Sector D of the Aliganj Scheme. It was originally allotted in 1980 and later changed hands before being sold in 2013. After mutation was completed, a residential building plan was approved in 2014 under the self-certification process.
Later, the Lucknow Development Authority reportedly found alleged unauthorised construction at the site and issued a demolition order on May 10, 2016. The order was withdrawn on July 5, 2016, less than two months later. After the deadly Aliganj fire, investigators are expected to examine why the order was revoked and whether regulatory gaps allowed the building to continue operating in a risky condition.
Arrests and safety investigation
Authorities have begun a detailed investigation into the cause of the blaze, possible fire safety violations and the use of the premises for commercial purposes. Reports said four people have been arrested and four officials have been suspended after the incident.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the injured at KGMU and announced ₹5 lakh compensation for the families of those who died and ₹50,000 for the injured. Firefighters used several fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, to rescue people trapped inside the smoke-filled building.
Eyewitnesses said panic spread quickly as thick smoke blocked escape routes, forcing some people to jump from windows. While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, the incident has renewed concern over residential buildings being converted into crowded commercial spaces without proper fire exits, safety clearance and strict enforcement.
The Lucknow fire probe is now expected to focus not only on the immediate cause of the blaze but also on the larger question of how a building with a past demolition order continued to function with heavy public use.
