Lucknow, 16 April . Vikasnagar in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, was shaken by the explosion along with the fire. Flames rising from the slum and explosions from gas cylinders filled the area with terror. The scene of devastation was seen from up to ten kilometers away. About 300 huts were burnt to ashes. More than 30 cylinders exploded one after the other. Many cattle also burnt to death. Four children are also reported to have died in the fire. 22 vehicles of the fire department remained engaged in extinguishing the fire and search operation till midnight.
The incident took place in Vikas Nagar Sector-14. There was a slum settlement on about three bighas of land. A fire broke out here on Wednesday evening. Within no time the flames became huge. The devastation increased as the gas cylinder exploded. People were not able to muster the courage to move forward. Police and fire personnel took out the children of many families trapped in the fire. Some people moved towards the fire, worried that some more children were trapped, but the police stopped them as the fire was getting worse. Worried about saving the children, people lost their temper and started pelting stones at the fire brigade personnel and police engaged in rescue work. In this, the head of Civil Defense post warden Rishi Srivastava was injured and many other people were injured. Despite this, the rescue team remained patient and continued the rescue work by pacifying the angry people.
- Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, Director General of Police
Firefighter Sujit Pandey, Police Commissioner Amarendra Kumar Sengar, DM Vishakh ji and Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar reached the spot. People started crying in front of the police officers and Deputy CM for their people and homes. Explained this to everyone and calmed them down. Assured that the government stands with them. After much persuasion, the residents of the colony were sent to the mini stadium located some distance away. More than 1000 slums were burnt in the fire. More than 100 explosions occurred. The flames continued to rise up to about 30 feet. Fire brigade personnel continued to control the fire till late night. Vishan Gautam, a native of Itaunja, who lives in a hut in a slum located at some distance from the Mini Stadium in Vikasnagar Sector-14, said that most of the people in this settlement, spread over about three bighas, are residents of Unnao, Sitapur, Lakhimpurkhiri, Rae Bareli, Bahraich and neighboring districts.
These families have been living here for 20-25 years. A fire broke out in a mosque-like hut around 4 pm. The fire killed neighbors Dharmendra, Bablu, Vimlesh, Ram Swaroop, Minister, Mohd. The huts of Asif Qureshi, Rehman, Sunita, Shamshunishan and Karan were affected. People tried to control the fire by throwing water, but due to strong wind, the fire spread to the colony within a few minutes. The fire further flared up due to the explosion of gas cylinders and fuel tanks of vehicles.
According to eyewitnesses, more than 100 explosions occurred as cylinders and fuel tanks burst from the huts. Fire brigade and police arrived about one and a half hour after the fire. People started running away from the huts built in the colony to save their lives. 22 fire tenders started the work of extinguishing the fire. The fire could not be controlled till late night. State Disaster Response Force also reached for rescue. The police immediately moved the people out of the colony.
- The victims said – children are not being found
Rehman told that his four children are trapped inside. When the incident happened, everyone was sleeping in the house. When the fire broke out, he somehow ran out but his children could not escape. Shamshunishaan said that his two children are trapped. Vipin told that two children of one of his relatives are missing. Saktu, a resident of Baddupur in Barabanki, said that his 15-day-old daughter also got trapped in the fire. No trace of him has been found. People were insisting on going inside. When the police stopped, people started fighting. To save their loved ones, angry people pelted stones at the police. Eight to 10 people, including residents of the colony as well as police and civil defense personnel, were injured in the stone pelting. During this time there was a stampede. People allege that the police and fire brigade did not reach on time and the fire took a huge form. The angry people had heated arguments and scuffles with the police and administration officials.
- People ran away screaming to save their lives, a stampede broke out.
Seeing the fire in the colony, there was chaos in the entire area. The people present there started screaming and running away to save their lives. A stampede-like situation arose on the road. Nearby shops and showrooms were closed. The wheels of the vehicles stopped on the road. Police and fire brigade personnel reached the spot, saw the terrible form of fire and informed the authorities about it. Within no time, senior police and administration officials and 22 fire brigade vehicles reached the spot. During this time, passersby kept capturing videos on mobile and posting them on social media. People said that about 50 cattle including chickens, goats and dogs raised at their place were burnt. Many people even got burnt while evacuating their household.
- Fire turned dreams into ashes, burnt dowry
In the horrific fire, along with the belongings of the poor kept in the huts, their dreams were also burnt to ashes. The marriage of Sunita’s sister Manisha, resident of Sitapur, was to take place on 29 April. The bed and other items were kept in the hut for dowry. All that was burnt to ashes. After the incident, Sunita was shouting that how should I marry Manisha now? By adding every penny, some items were added for dowry. Everything was ruined. Like Sunita, marriage was organized in many other families also. Along with the money collected for their household and marriage, their belongings were also burnt. Karan, a resident of Sitapur, works in Ahmedabad. Karan told that he had returned from there four days ago. Tuesday was son Arjun’s birthday. Had brought toys for the child from Hyderabad. All those toys and child’s gifts were burnt.
- More than 30 houses around were evacuated, hospital alert
Seeing the dire nature of the fire, the police and administration evacuated more than 30 houses around the settlement as a precautionary measure. On receiving the news of the fire, DG Fire Sujit Pandey, Police Commissioner Amarendra Kumar Sengar, District Magistrate Visakh ji called forces of several police stations, SDRF and a team of doctors. During this period, all the major hospitals of the capital, Civil, Balrampur, Trauma Centre, Lokbandhu, PGI were kept on alert mode. By 10 pm, fire brigade personnel had somehow controlled the fire to some extent.
- Smoke visible for five kilometers, road jammed
The fire in the colony was so terrible that the flames and smoke were visible up to a distance of about five kilometers. Traffic going towards the Ring Road was also affected for several hours due to the fire. After the incident, a jam like situation arose in Ring Road, Khurram Nagar and surrounding areas and vehicles were queued up. Many fire engines also got stuck in this. The police had to struggle to get the vehicles out. A large number of people stood around the incident site and started making videos. The police had to use batons to remove the people. Wherever people saw smoke on the way, they stopped the car and started taking photographs. Due to which traffic jam started. About three hours after the fire broke out, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team reached the spot.
- Dowry items burnt along with raw household items
Firefighters remained busy extinguishing the fire till late night. Local people said that there were more than 1000 huts in the settlement. The food items, clothes, money and the crude household items kept in the slum were burnt to ashes in the fire. There was marriage in many families. Her dowry and other wedding items were all burnt. People said that about 50 cattle including chickens, goats and dogs raised at their place were burnt. Many people even got burnt while evacuating their household.
- Called the neighbors, Nusrat’s children were taken out
Nusrat, who lived near the slum, had gone to the market at the time of the incident. Two children were alone at home. The house is right adjacent to the slum. The flames were becoming frightening. The children were screaming. The children called and informed. After this Nusrat sent the neighbors and got the children taken out. Meanwhile, flames came inside the house. The household started burning. Fire fighters had parked their vehicles behind the house. When I asked him to extinguish the fire, he said that he had run out of water. The fire was extinguished when another vehicle arrived about half an hour later. The household items of the house were reduced to ashes in the fire.
- Hundreds of homeless, Municipal Corporation sent them to shelter home
The massive fire left hundreds of people homeless. The affected families came under the open sky. After this, the Municipal Corporation has intensified relief and rescue operations. Special arrangements have been made to take the homeless families to safe places. The Municipal Corporation team is continuously present at the spot and helping the affected people. All the affected families are being shifted by the Municipal Corporation to various shelter homes and night shelters in the city. Accommodation arrangements have been made in many areas including Kalyan Mandap, Aliganj, so that people can get immediate relief. Food, water and necessary facilities are also being provided there. Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar reached the spot and was monitoring the relief operations. He has instructed the officials that no victim should be inconvenienced and everyone should get timely help.
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