Lucknow fire tragedy: LDA demolishes Aliganj site following expiry of 15-day deadline
Lucknow, July 25
The Lucknow Development Authority on Saturday began demolishing the fire-ravaged building in the city's Aliganj area after the 15-day demolition deadline issued to the owner expired, officials said.
Bulldozers reached the site shortly after the deadline ended, and demolition commenced after authorities verified the extent of demolition already carried out by the building owner. A heavy police deployment was made in the area to ensure law and order during the operation.
The action comes over a month after a devastating fire at a coaching institute operating in the Aliganj building on June 22 claimed the lives of 15 people.
Meanwhile, the building owner, Advocate Rajendra Prasad Shukla, termed the demolition drive "illegal" and alleged that the authorities acted before the expiry of the deadline mentioned in the notice.
"This is illegal action. The notice had given a deadline until July 25. As per the notice, I came to take action but I was not given permission by Aliganj Police Station. I was permitted only on July 20. I had been working on it since July 20, and work was being done today as well. I had time until July 25 evening as per their notice," Shukla told ANI.
Questioning the timing of the demolition, he further said, "What kind of justice is this? This is democracy. They have come here for demolition now itself with the entire force. If they had any objection over the action taken by me, they should have come on July 26. Why did they come before time? I object to this."
Fire had broken out in a three-storey building in Lucknow's Aliganj area on June 22, which housed a gaming and animation studio. Among the 15 people who lost their lives in the blaze were students, trainees, and staff members working at the studio.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm from Lucknow and this building has been a death trap for years. The owner is a advocate and thought he could get away with anything. But the timing of demolition does seem suspicious - why wait until the very last day? The authorities should have sealed the building immediately after the fire, not given a 15-day notice for demolition. Our bureaucracy moves at snails pace while people's safety is compromised daily. 😐
As someone who works in safety regulations back in the UK, this is shocking. 15 lives lost because of illegal modifications and no fire safety measures. The owner claiming "democracy" is ridiculous - democracy doesn't mean you can run a death trap and expect to be left alone. India needs strict enforcement of building codes and fire safety norms. Period.
This whole situation is a tragedy compounded by poor governance. The owner is clearly trying to save his property, but 15 families lost their loved ones. I'm glad demolition is happening but this is just one building. How many more illegal constructions and unsafe coaching centres exist in every city? Our youth are studying in death traps across India. Wake up, authorities! 🙏
I don't understand the owner's protest - he had 15 days to demolish. What kind of lawyer doesn't know the law? If he was genuinely working on it, he should have completed it earlier. The authorities had every right to step in. But honestly, the real fault lies with the system that allowed this building to operate illegally for so long. RIP to the 15 souls lost. 🕯️
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