LUCKNOW: A massive fire broke out at Jawahar Bhawan, a multi-storey government office complex in Lucknow’s Hazratganj on Monday morning, causing panic among employees and leading to a major firefighting operation. The blaze started around 10 am, after offices in the building had opened and staff members were present inside. Thick black smoke rose into the sky as flames spread through the fifth floor of the building. The fire was reportedly visible from nearly three kilometres away, attracting the attention of commuters and residents in central Lucknow.Several fire tenders were rushed to the spot after the incident was reported. Firefighters began efforts to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading, while police cordoned off the area and managed traffic to ensure smooth emergency operations. According to eyewitness Satish Pandey, the fire originated in the canteen area on the fifth floor of the Treasury Office inside Jawahar Bhawan and spread quickly, overwhelming the building’s internal firefighting equipment. He said multiple fire brigade vehicles were deployed to bring the blaze under control, and all employees were safely evacuated. No casualties were reported. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Hazratganj) Rajneesh Kumar told TOI that, prima facie, the fire appears to have started in the Treasury Office. The exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined, and a detailed investigation will be conducted after the fire is completely extinguished. Officials said the building was evacuated as a precautionary measure, preventing any loss of life. No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far. Authorities are assessing the extent of damage to government offices, documents and infrastructure in the affected area of the building. Fire department teams continued cooling operations to prevent any flare-up, while investigators are expected to examine whether an electrical fault or any other technical issue caused the incident. Further details are awaited as firefighting and assessment operations continue.
