Lucknow fire: 15 of 18 victims identified, 4 arrested over Aliganj blaze
Synopsis
A commercial building in Lucknow's Aliganj with a single exit, no smoke vents, and allegedly unsafe wiring became a death trap for 18 people — most aged 20 to 24. Four have been arrested, an FIR filed, and three victims remain unidentified, as India's recurring problem of fire safety negligence in mixed-use buildings once again costs young lives.
Key Takeaways
15 of 18 victims of the Lucknow Aliganj fire have been identified; families have been informed as of 23 June .
Most victims were reportedly aged between 20 and 24 years ; one victim, Somalya , was from South 24 Parganas, West Bengal .
Four people arrested: building owners Ramkrishna Upadhyay , Virendra Prasad Shukla , Tushank Krishna Jaiswal , and studio operator Suresh Kumar Sahu .
FIR filed under Sections 105, 110, 125 and 3(5) of the BNS at Aliganj Police Station .
The building had only one entry and exit point , no smoke ventilation, and allegedly unsafe electrical installations.
Two injured survivors, Lavpreet and Jayant , are being treated at King George's Medical University .
Fifteen of the 18 people killed in the Lucknow building fire have been identified, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, 23 June. The blaze, which broke out on Monday evening in the Aliganj area, has led to the arrest of four individuals, including three building owners and a studio operator, as investigators point to systematic safety failures in the three-storey commercial structure.
Victims Identified
The identified deceased are Shahjan, Sukhmani Singh, Aditya Srivastava, Jwanil Chakraborty, Sagar Pant, Nilesh, Sayyam, Bhavishya, Jyoti, Abdul Rahman, Anamika Samant, Suraj Singh, Md Ammar, and Teejraj — all residents of Lucknow — along with Somalya, a resident of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Three victims are yet to be identified. Officials confirmed that families of the identified deceased have been notified. Most of the victims were reportedly between 20 and 24 years of age.
Injured Undergoing Treatment
Two injured survivors have been identified as Lavpreet and Jayant, both residents of Lucknow. They are currently receiving treatment at King George's Medical University (KGMU), according to officials.
FIR Registered, Four Arrested
An FIR has been registered at Aliganj Police Station against six named individuals under Sections 105, 110, 125 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Three building owners — Ramkrishna Upadhyay, Virendra Prasad Shukla, and Tushank Krishna Jaiswal — were arrested. Hours later, Suresh Kumar Sahu, identified as the studio operator, was also taken into custody, bringing the total arrests to four.
What the Building Housed — and What It Lacked
According to the FIR, the three-storey structure in Sector-D near Purania Chauraha housed a pet shop and clinic on the ground and first floors, a video gaming zone and 3D animation centre on the second floor, and an IT networking office on the third floor. The fire reportedly broke out at around 2:30 pm in the pet shop and clinic, filling the building with thick smoke. Animals trapped in the pet shop also perished.
Investigators found that the building had only one entry and exit point, no smoke ventilation system, and electrical installations allegedly maintained in an unsafe manner. The FIR states the building lacked basic fire safety measures and emergency evacuation facilities entirely. Authorities allege that the owners and managers knowingly ignored these safety requirements despite being aware that such negligence could endanger lives.
What Comes Next
With three victims still unidentified and the investigation ongoing, police are expected to question additional accused persons named in the FIR. The case is likely to draw scrutiny on fire safety enforcement in commercial buildings across Uttar Pradesh, where similar lapses have been flagged in past incidents.
Point of View
Delhi, and Rajkot in recent years. A single exit, no ventilation, unverified electrical work, and multiple commercial occupancies stacked in one structure: each element is a known, documented risk. The arrests of four individuals are necessary, but the harder accountability question is why this building was operating commercially without fire safety clearances. If enforcement had matched regulation, 18 people — most of them young adults — would likely be alive. The pattern demands systemic reform, not just criminal prosecution of individual owners.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the Lucknow Aliganj fire?
18 people died in the fire that broke out on Monday, 23 June , in a commercial building in Aliganj, Lucknow . Most victims were reportedly between 20 and 24 years of age.
Who has been arrested in connection with the Lucknow fire?
Four people have been arrested: building owners Ramkrishna Upadhyay , Virendra Prasad Shukla , and Tushank Krishna Jaiswal , along with studio operator Suresh Kumar Sahu . An FIR has been registered against six named individuals in total.
What caused the Lucknow Aliganj building fire?
The fire reportedly broke out at around 2:30 pm in a pet shop and clinic on the lower floors of the building. The FIR alleges the structure had unsafe electrical installations, no smoke ventilation, and only one exit — conditions that allowed thick smoke to engulf the entire building rapidly.
Which sections of the BNS were invoked in the Lucknow fire FIR?
The FIR was registered under Sections 105, 110, 125 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Aliganj Police Station , covering culpable homicide, endangerment, and related offences.
Where are the injured survivors of the Lucknow fire being treated?
Two identified injured survivors — Lavpreet and Jayant , both residents of Lucknow — are currently undergoing treatment at King George's Medical University (KGMU) , according to officials.
