India, May 1 -- LUCKNOW Sizzling temperatures and mounting electrical loads turned April into one of the most intense months for Lucknow's fire department in recent memory. With a staggering 567 blazes recorded over 30 days, the city witnessed an average of one fire every 75 minutes, leaving fire crews stretched to their limits.

The numbers tell a story of extremes. On April 23, the city reeled under 53 fire incidents in just 24 hours - the highest single-day spike - while quieter days like April 8 saw only two calls, exposing sharp and unpredictable swings.

Amid the surge, tragedy struck in Vikas Nagar, where a fire claimed lives of two minors, bringing into focus the deadly risks behind the rising tally. "At the same time, timely inte...