LUCKNOW, April 17 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Friday ordered the officials concerned to provide food, other basic amenities and medical treatment for the victims of the massive fire that broke out in Vikas Nagar slums in Lucknow on Wednesday (April 15) evening.

The court has directed to make the public works department and the state relief commissioner as opposite parties in the public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the fire case. It has also ordered the district magistrate, the chief medical officer, the chief fire officer of Lucknow and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation to file their reply affidavit with details by May 30.

The court questioned government officials about how 1,455 people encroached upon four...