A distraught mother's repeated cry of "Mujhe jaane do apne bete ke paas" (Let me go to my son) has come to symbolize the tragedy of the Lucknow fire that claimed 15 lives, as rescue operations continued on Monday.
Fire Breaks Out in Building
The fire erupted on Sunday evening in a three-story commercial building in the old city area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Officials said the blaze started on the ground floor, which housed a chemical godown, and rapidly spread to upper floors where several families lived.
According to the Lucknow district administration, 15 people were killed and 20 others injured, some critically. The injured were rushed to King George's Medical University (KGMU) and other hospitals for treatment.
Mother's Heartbreaking Plea
Television footage showed a woman, identified as 45-year-old Savita, wailing and trying to break through the police cordon. "Mujhe jaane do apne bete ke paas," she cried, as officials tried to calm her. Her son, a 20-year-old college student, was believed to be trapped inside the building. Later, his body was recovered from the debris.
"We are trying to locate all the missing persons. The mother's pain is indescribable," said a senior police officer at the scene.
Rescue and Relief Efforts
Firefighters battled the blaze for over six hours before bringing it under control. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were also deployed for search and rescue. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
"The state government is committed to providing all possible assistance. An inquiry has been ordered to fix responsibility," the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement.
Investigation Underway
Initial reports suggest the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. However, officials have not ruled out negligence. The building owner has been detained for questioning.
"We are investigating all angles. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty," said Lucknow Police Commissioner D.K. Thakur.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the lack of fire safety measures in many commercial and residential buildings in the city. Local residents said they had repeatedly warned authorities about the illegal storage of chemicals in the building.
