At least 14 people, most of them students, were killed after a fire ripped through a multi-use commercial building in the northern Indian city of Lucknow on Monday, authorities said.
The blaze broke out in the city’s Aliganj neighbourhood, engulfing a building that housed a pet shop and veterinary clinic on the lower floors, with a study centre and animation studio operating above.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene and battled the flames as rescue operations got underway. Officials said many of the victims were students who were inside the building when the fire spread.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Rescue teams continued searching the site while officials assessed the extent of the damage.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly building fires in India, where concerns over fire safety standards and emergency preparedness have frequently been raised following similar incidents.
Local authorities have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged a thorough inquiry into the cause of the blaze.
