Lucknow, June 23:
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 that 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 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, but I saw 11-12 bodies from my own eyes,” Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who was at the site, told reporters.
Later, he said 14 students died in the fire and four others injured were sent to KGMU Trauma Centre.