LUCKNOW, June 23 -- At least 15 people, mostly students and young professionals associated with an animation and gaming studio located on the premises, were killed and over a dozen seriously injured after a devastating fire engulfed a three-storey commercial building in Purania sector-D of Aliganj area in the state capital on Monday afternoon, allegedly after a short circuit on the ground floor, said officials. The building had come up on a plot originally meant for residential use and didn't have a fire NoC. Under building bylaws, such certificates are required for buildings above 15 metres, but this complex was less than that height, said Ankush Mittal, chief fire officer, Lucknow. "The operators had not approached us for the NoC," he added. While the UP government constituted a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the fire incident, following the chief minister's directions, investigators were examining whether violations of building norms and deficiencies in fire safety measures contributed to the scale of the disaster. Officials said entry to the upper floors through the staircase was choked with no second fire exit compelling around seven to eight students trapped inside to jump off the building by breaking the glass windows on the front side. The fire broke out around 2pm. The building housed a pet shop and a clinic occupying the basement, ground and first floor. The second floor had an animation training centre and gaming zone named 'Learning Space Head Hopper Studio,' which handles 3D art production and game asset outsourcing, they added. It took 15-16 fire tenders and over four hours to completely douse the fire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Lucknow incident and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). In a post on X, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased with the injured to be given Rs 50,000. After getting information, chief minister Yogi Adityanath cut short his visit to Aligarh and rushed to Lucknow where he inspected the accident site, rescue operation and later met injured victims being treated at the KGMU Trauma Centra, where he promised strict action against those found responsible. He announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed in the devastating fire, while Rs 50,000 each will be provided to the injured, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated. Defence minister Rajnath Singh left for Lucknow, shortly after he was briefed on the Lucknow fire incident. "I am in constant touch with officials and reaching Lucknow to take stock of the situation," he said expressing grief over the incident. Meanwhile, UP deputy chief minister and health minister Brijesh Pathak also reached the site to take stock of the rescue work. "The injured are being shifted to hospital and officials have been instructed to provide proper treatment. Six ambulances and medical teams are on the spot. I pray God helps the injured in speedy recovery," the deputy CM wrote on X. He further said that orders had been issued for a high-level inquiry into the incident. After the fire spread, students at an alleged gaming centre on the second floor locked themselves in the washroom. However, one student saved his life by jumping from the first floor, falling on to a grille below and sustaining serious injuries. The video of the youth purportedly jumping also went viral showing the gravity of the incident. At least 20-21 people were brought to the Trauma Centre of King George's Medical University (KGMU) following the incident. Of them, 15 were declared brought dead, while five-six injured persons were admitted for treatment and their condition was stable. After the panchnama process, the bodies are being sent to the mortuary for post-mortem process, Dr Prem Raj Singh, CMS, told media persons. Authorities from the fire department, local police, SDRF, district administration and health department swung into action with officers reaching the site. These included DGP Rajeev Krishna, principal secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad, district magistrate Vishak G, divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, LDA vice-chairman Prathamesh Kumar, municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar among others....