India, April 23 -- A major fire that tore through Vikas Nagar in Lucknow on April 15 has left a trail of destruction, displacing over 1,000 people and exposing the vulnerability of informal settlements to recurring disasters.

The blaze broke out in the afternoon in the densely populated locality, home largely to migrant and daily wage workers. Fanned by close-packed structures and narrow lanes, the fire spread rapidly from one makeshift dwelling to another, leaving residents with little time to salvage their belongings. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions during the incident as LPG cylinders caught fire, intensifying the flames and complicating firefighting efforts.

By the time the situation was brought under control, nearly 300 h...