At Least 14 Students Killed in Lucknow Building Fire, Yogi Adityanath Rushes to Spot

PTI, June 22, 2026, Lucknow: At least 14 students were killed and four others injured after a massive fire blazed through a three-floor commercial building housing an animation centre in a residential area in north Lucknow on a busy Monday afternoon, trapping several people.

Eyewitnesses said several people jumped out of the building as fire engulfed the structure, which also has a pet clinic.

Fourteen fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, were deployed to control the blaze that was reported at around 3 pm from the building located at Usha Mehta Marg in the Aliganj area.

"The fire broke out suddenly. It was an animation centre. While there is no immediate clarity about the sequence of events, it seems that the children ran towards the back side when the fire broke out, but they couldn't survive. While there is no clarity about the exact figure, I saw 11-12 bodies with my own eyes," Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak told reporters.

Later, he said 14 students died in the fire and four others injured were sent to the KGMU Trauma Centre.

Senior officials, including Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, DGP Rajeev Krishna and Lucknow Police Commissioner Amrendra Sengar, reached the spot to monitor the rescue operation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the loss of lives and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short his visit to Aligarh and returned to Lucknow after receiving information about the fire tragedy.

"Some children have been caught in it and have lost their lives. Therefore, I have to return immediately," Adityanath told a gathering in Aligarh.

The Chief Minister expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and said he had directed the Director General of Police and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to reach the spot and submit a report.

"I myself am also leaving for there so that we can go into the details of the entire matter, punish those responsible and also express our condolences to the affected families," he said.