New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the devastating fire that broke out in a multi-storey building in Lucknow and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister\u2019s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims and their families.<\/p>\n
According to a post shared by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) on social media platform X, the next of kin of each deceased victim will receive an ex gratia payment of \u20b92 lakh, while those injured in the incident will be provided financial assistance of \u20b950,000 each.<\/p>\n
The PMO quoted the Prime Minister as saying, \u201cDeeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the fire in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. Rescue operations are underway and authorities are providing all possible assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fire department received information about the blaze at around 3 pm from a building located on Usha Mehta Marg in Lucknow\u2019s Aliganj area. A massive firefighting operation was launched, with 14 fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, deployed to control the flames. Local police teams and personnel from nearby fire stations also rushed to the spot with water tankers and firefighting equipment.<\/p>\n
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak reached the site soon after the incident and said the administration\u2019s immediate priority was to rescue those trapped inside the building.<\/p>\n
While fire officials stated that the blaze originated in a coaching centre, the Deputy Chief Minister said the affected premises housed an animation centre. He added that several children had been rescued safely, but information received from students suggested that three to four people could still be trapped inside.<\/p>\n
Firefighters conducted extensive searches of the upper floors, rooms and washrooms of the building. However, thick smoke inside the structure made rescue operations extremely difficult. To gain access, emergency teams reportedly broke through a wall of an adjacent building and entered the premises from the rear side.<\/p>\n
According to officials, the ground floor of the three-storey building housed a pet shop, while the upper floor was being used as an animation and training centre. Medical teams, ambulances and hospitals were placed on high alert to ensure prompt treatment for the injured.<\/p>\n
Eyewitnesses said some firefighters entered the smoke-filled building carrying wet blankets and helped evacuate victims, who were then rushed to hospitals. After the fire was brought under control, stretchers and body bags were taken inside the building as search operations continued.<\/p>\n
A woman who operates a paying guest accommodation nearby said panic and chaos gripped the area immediately after the incident. Another local resident said thick black smoke was seen billowing out of the building and several students managed to escape on their own.<\/p>\n
Some eyewitnesses claimed that the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit and that several students jumped from the building in a desperate attempt to save themselves. Rescue agencies continued combing through the structure amid concerns that more people could still be trapped inside.<\/p>\n
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the devastating fire that broke out in a multi-storey building in Lucknow and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister\u2019s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims and their families. According to a post shared by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":67192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,37],"tags":[16139,16138],"class_list":["post-67191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-national","tag-fire-victims-as-death-toll-rises","tag-pm-announces-ex-gratia-for-lucknow"],"yoast_head":"\n