India, July 10 -- LUCKNOW The designated court of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) on Friday ordered the demolition of the three-storey building in Aliganj where a devastating fire claimed 15 lives and injured nine others on June 22. The ruling upholds the authority's case that the structure was operating in blatant violation of building norms.

The Vihit Pradhikari pronounced its verdict a day after reserving its order, clearing the way for demolition proceedings against the property. Following the order, the LDA issued a demolition notice directing the owners to remove the unauthorised construction within 15 days, failing which the authority will carry out the demolition and recover the cost from them.

The action has been initia...