Tragic Fire in Lucknow Claims Lives of Two Young Sisters
A massive fire that erupted on Wednesday evening in Sector 11 of Vikas Nagar, Lucknow, has resulted in a heartbreaking tragedy. The blaze gutted over 280 shanties, rendering more than 1,000 people homeless. On Thursday morning, the bodies of two sisters, a toddler and an infant, were recovered from the debris, marking the first confirmed fatalities from the incident.
Victims Identified as Daughters of Rag-Picker
The deceased have been identified as Shruti, aged 2, and her two-month-old sister, Sweety. They were the daughters of Satish, a rag-picker from Kashipurwa village in Barabanki. According to reports, Satish and his wife, Poonam, spent the night frantically searching for their missing daughters after the fire broke out, but were unable to locate them amidst the chaos.
Search Operations and Police Confirmation
Police authorities reported that the bodies were found buried under debris during search operations that resumed on Thursday morning, after the blaze was brought under control late Wednesday night. DCP (East) Deeksha Sharma, who remained at the site throughout the night, confirmed the recovery. She stated, "It was during an intensive search at dawn that the charred remains of the two minors were found. It appears they were trapped inside their shanty and could not escape the rapidly spreading flames." The bodies have been sent for postmortem to determine the exact cause of death.
Initial Reports and Mounting Anxiety
Initially, authorities had reported no casualties, as most residents managed to flee the inferno. However, anxiety mounted overnight after several families reported missing members, prompting a renewed and thorough search operation. This led to the tragic discovery of the two sisters.
Relief and Rehabilitation Efforts
District magistrate Vishak G Iyer announced that an ex-gratia payment of Rs 8 lakh has been provided to the bereaved family. He emphasized, "All necessary arrangements are being made for relief and rehabilitation of affected families." He added that the land where the shanties stood belongs to the Public Works Department (PWD), and a massive exercise involving over 100 revenue officials was undertaken to identify the affected families. After nearly 15 hours of verification, around 260 families were found to be residing on the land.
On-Ground Situation and Community Support
On Thursday, displaced residents returned to the gutted site, sifting through the ashes in a desperate attempt to salvage whatever belongings they could. Many refused to leave the area, even as residents from Vikas Nagar stepped in to provide essential support, including food, clothes, and drinking water.
Political Response and Demands for Action
In response to the disaster, BJP MLA OP Srivastava has written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, seeking urgent relief measures. His demands include:
- Immediate financial assistance for affected families
- Free medical care for the injured
- Temporary shelters with provisions for food and water
- Special camps for reissuing lost documents such as Aadhaar cards and ration cards
- Priority housing under the state’s urban housing scheme for permanent rehabilitation
This tragic incident highlights the vulnerabilities of informal settlements and underscores the need for robust fire safety measures and swift disaster response in urban areas.
