At least 12 students have died after a fire broke out in a building in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, authorities said. Most of the victims were teenagers attending an animation centre in the building when the blaze began.
The fire broke out on Monday in the Aliganj area of Lucknow, the state capital, according to Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak. He said most of the victims were aged between 16 and 18.
“They were present at the animation centre located in the building when the fire broke out,” Brijesh Pathak told reporters.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as flames spread rapidly through the multi-use building, which also housed a pet clinic. According to local media reports, some people attempted to escape by jumping from upper floors as the fire intensified.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, and rescue efforts continued throughout the day.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims' families and said authorities were working to assist those affected.
“Anguished by the loss of lives in a fire mishap in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest,” his office said in a statement on X.
Officials said those injured were receiving treatment, although the exact number of casualties beyond the fatalities was not immediately confirmed.
Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire, with scrutiny likely to focus on safety standards and emergency preparedness in the building.
The tragedy adds to a series of deadly fire incidents in India in recent years, many of them linked to overcrowding, inadequate fire safety measures and poor enforcement of regulations.
Further details are expected as emergency teams complete search operations and assess the full extent of the damage.
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