At least four people lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at Hotel Levana in Lucknow's Hazratganj on Monday, 5 September. Rescue operations are underway at the site, with emergency services' officials engaged in evacuating those present in the building.
"According to the hotel owner, there are 30 rooms in the building and 18 were occupied at the time of the incident. There were 35-40 people there and some had left the hotel in the morning," District Magistrate Suryapal Gangwar told reporters.
Fire brigade personnel and police officers were present at the site and were attempting to douse the fire.
"So far 10 people have been admitted to the Civil Hospital, out of which 2 people were brought dead," GS Bajpai, Additional Director of Health, Uttar Pradesh, told reporters.
Windows of the hotel's rooms are being broken to facilitate the rescue. "Rooms are filled with smoke making it difficult to go in. Work is underway to break window panes and grills, two people have been rescued," news agency ANI quoted cited a fire official as saying.
About 10 people trapped inside were pulled out by the police.
The cause of the fire, which erupted around 8 am, has not been ascertained yet. "It may be due to a short-circuit. The exact cause is being ascertained. The hotel owner told us that there is a banquet on the first floor where something happened," the district magistrate said.
'No Approved Map, Building To Be Demolished'
Meanwhile, a preliminary investigation launched into the incident revealed that there was no approved map for the building and that prima facie, there was no fire management system in place either.
The authorities said that the building will be sealed and demolished.
"In the absence of an approved map of the hotel, effective disciplinary action should be ensured against the officers/employees involved in running the hotel," a statement from the Lucknow Police read.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier ordered that the commissioner of Lucknow Division and police commissioner of Lucknow will jointly enquire into causes of the fire incident.
CM Adityanath also visited those injured in the hospital.
"The incident of fire in a hotel in the capital Lucknow is very sad. The concerned officers have been directed to reach the spot immediately and conduct relief and rescue operations expeditiously, and provide all possible help to the affected. Praying to Prabhu Shri Ram for the speedy recovery of the injured," Chief Minister Adityanath tweeted in Hindi.
Free treatment will be given to the patients, as per Yogi Adityanath's orders.
"I came to know about the tragic incident of the fire in a hotel in Lucknow. I have inquired about the situation from the local administration. Relief and rescue operations are on. My office is in constant touch with the local administration. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident," Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.
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