Lucknow, April 16 -- Two children have been confirmed dead in a devastating fire that swept through an illegal settlement in Vikasnagar Sector 12 along Ring Road on Wednesday evening. The victims, identified as Ayushi and Swati, were among six children reported missing after the blaze. The confirmation of their deaths has left families inconsolable.

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing nearly 1,200 huts within a short span. Around 100 LPG cylinders kept inside the shanties exploded one after another, intensifying the blaze and triggering panic across the area. Residents ran for their lives as flames leapt from one hut to another.

A total of 22 fire tenders were pressed into service and firefighting operations continued till around 10 pm. Authorities said the search for the remaining missing children continued late into the night.

According to officials, the settlement had come up over nearly three bighas of vacant land near the Mini Stadium in Vikasnagar, where around 250 families had been living in makeshift huts for years. The fire reportedly broke out around 5 pm in a hut resembling a small mosque. Locals initially tried to douse the flames but failed.

Residents alleged that calls to the police control room did not connect immediately and that fire services reached the spot nearly an hour after the first alert, by which time the fire had intensified. The delay, they claimed, allowed the blaze to spiral out of control. Angry residents later clashed with police and administrative officials at the site.

The incident triggered chaos in the area, with people screaming and running in all directions. Shops in the vicinity were shut and traffic on the Ring Road came to a halt for several hours as thick smoke spread up to five kilometres.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak visited the site and directed officials to ensure proper shelter and food arrangements for the affected families. He said a high-level inquiry would be conducted into the incident.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.