LUCKNOW, June 23 -- The building gutted in the Aliganj fire that claimed 15 lives was allegedly consuming between 100 and 150 KV load despite having a sanctioned electricity connection of only 20 KV, according to preliminary findings that have brought electrical safety compliance and regulatory oversight under scrutiny.

The findings have raised questions about how the building continued operating despite the apparent mismatch between sanctioned and actual power usage.

According to a senior official of the Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA), who spoke on condition of anonymity, the electricity connection was reportedly drawn directly from a low-tension (LT) line, whereas a separate transformer should have been installed con...