Devastating fire in commercial building in Lucknow,India,killed at least 14 people,mostly college students . Blaze broke out Monday in three-storey structure housing animation studio,library . Located in residential area of Uttar Pradesh's capital.
Reports say fire began on middle floor. Eyewitnesses,local media hint death toll could reach 15,but official word pending. State's deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak voiced sorrow: “Fourteen children from happy families were killed in incident,” he said. Four others injured.
Cause of fire unknown. Unclear if all victims were students. Social media videos captured chaos,people fleeing through windows. One clip showed man falling from upper floor in desperate escape; reports say he survived,now hospitalized .
Firefighters faced major hurdles. Dense smoke filled building . Officials broke through wall to reach people,used exhaust fans to clear air as they searched for survivors. Mohammad Asin,an animation studio employee,described pre-fire moments: workers had just returned from lunch when alarm sounded. “At first we thought it was small fire. By time we tried to leave,smoke had filled rooms and passageways,” he said .
Building fires common in India,blamed on ignored safety codes,inadequate firefighting resources. Electrical short circuits,often from bad wiring,top cause nationwide. Always a question of when,not if…
