Narrow staircase, no ventilation, locked terrace: How Lucknow building became death trap
15 killed in Lucknow blaze: Officials are probing whether the building had any fire extinguishers.
Rescue personnel douse the flames at the site in Lucknow’s Aliganj on Monday. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav) Stored material that caught fire, a biometric door that got locked, and the lack of ventilation are among key reasons that led to 15 casualties in Monday’s Lucknow blaze.
Survivors said commodities stored on the first floor, which was being used as a warehouse, fuelled the flames. Officials are probing whether the building had any fire extinguishers.
Departments responsible for monitoring such commercial operations include the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), the Fire Services Department, and the Power Department.
The building is located in Sector D, Aliganj, a residential area. The LDA is responsible for checking whether commercial activity is being run from a building in a residential zone.
A rescue personnel holds a cat that was injured in the fire. (PTI)
The LDA, Fire Services, and the Power Department have yet to confirm whether the building had the requisite NOC for fire safety, had undergone annual fire audits, possessed approved construction maps, or had its electrical wiring and equipment inspected. LDA Vice-Chairman Prathamesh Kumar, Director General (Fire Services) Sujeet Pandey, and Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd Managing Director Riya Kejriwal did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment.
According to officials, firefighters had no access to enter the building and had to break a side wall after reaching the terrace of the adjoining house to begin the rescue operation. It took another hour for constables to use sledgehammers to make two holes in the wall to enter the building, since the front was engulfed in flames.
Rescue personnel had to make two big holes in an adjoining building to enter the structure that was engulfed in flames. (ANI)
The only entrance to the building was a narrow staircase, which also served as the sole exit. There was no emergency exit on any floor, and no ventilation was found in any of the halls or rooms, officials said.
The biggest trap for the victims was that entry to the studios was through biometric access, which got locked after the fire broke out, officials said. There was also a lock on the terrace door.
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