LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) on Tuesday issued a fresh demolition notice for the Aliganj building where a fire killed 15 people a day earlier, even as the authority initiated an inquiry against its own officials for alleged laxity that may have allowed the illegal structure to operate for years. The fresh notice comes after preliminary scrutiny found that the building — approved only for residential use — had been converted into a commercial establishment housing a pet shop, library and a gaming and animation studio without authorisation. More damning, records show the LDA had already issued a demolition order against the property in May 2016 for unauthorised construction, only to revoke it less than two months later on July 5, 2016, under circumstances now under investigation.
The building, spread across 1,992 sq ft at MS/102/D, Sector D of the Aliganj Scheme, had its residential map approved in August 2014. A case was registered against owner Virendra Pratap Shukla the following year over construction beyond the sanctioned plan. Four officials — two from LDA, one each from the fire and electricity departments — have been suspended on CM Yogi Adityanath’s orders. A two-member SIT has been tasked with submitting its findings within seven days. Four persons, including building owner Virendra Prasad Shukla (62) and pet shop owner Ramakrishna Upadhyay (43), have been arrested. Two more accused remain at large.Building was disaster in waitingIndependent fire safety experts and firefighters involved in the rescue operation told TOI that the building exhibited several characteristics that can rapidly transform a small fire into a deadly inferno.“The tragedy was not caused by a single factor. It was a combination of poor building design, combustible materials, lack of ventilation and inadequate evacuation routes,” said senior fire safety consultant Krishna Kumar, who reviewed photographs and videos of the structure.Originally approved as a residential building, the structure was later converted into a commercial establishment housing a pet shop, veterinary clinic and a gaming and animation studio. Experts said such mixed occupancy significantly increases fire risks when safety norms are not upgraded accordingly.According to firefighters who entered the building during rescue operations, combustible material was present on almost every floor. Bags of pet food, wooden partitions, furniture, electrical equipment, plastic packaging, decorative materials and office furnishings provided fuel for the rapidly spreading blaze.“The moment the fire gained intensity, there was enough combustible load inside the building to sustain it for a long time,” said a firefighter who was part of the rescue effort.Fire experts pointed out that several sections lacked adequate windows and natural ventilation, causing smoke and toxic gases to accumulate quickly.“In most fire incidents, smoke kills before flames do. If smoke cannot escape, occupants become disoriented and unconscious within minutes,” an expert said.The building had only one primary staircase serving as the main evacuation route. As smoke spread through the stairwell, many occupants found themselves trapped on the upper floors with no alternate means of escape.“Any commercial building accommodating dozens of people should have multiple escape routes. Here, once the staircase became unusable, many people had nowhere to go,” said another expert.Firefighters said some victims were found in enclosed areas, including washrooms, where they apparently sought refuge from the flames. Rescue personnel believe many succumbed to smoke inhalation while waiting for help.The extensive use of glass facades may also have complicated evacuation efforts. Eyewitnesses reported seeing students smashing windows and jumping out in a desperate attempt to escape.“When people start breaking glass and jumping from upper floors, it usually means internal evacuation systems did not exist or already failed,” a senior fire officer observed.(With PTI inputs)
