An investigation is underway after 15 bodies were found in a charred building in Lucknow’s Transport Nagar area on Saturday. The building, which was illegally constructed and had been sealed by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), has sent shockwaves through the city .
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Here is what we know—and what remains unclear—about the incident.
What we know
The bodies and the fire:
- Thirteen of the victims were charred beyond recognition, and two were partially burnt, according to the District Magistrate of Lucknow .
- All 15 bodies were recovered from the building, which had been sealed.
- Initial reports suggest a fire broke out at the site, but officials are not ruling out other causes.
The building was illegally constructed:
- The LDA had sealed the building in November last year, following a court order declaring it as “illegal construction” .
- Despite the building being sealed and barricaded with iron angles and locks, the bodies were discovered on the premises .
FIR and investigation:
- An FIR has been registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder .
- The police have taken statements from the building’s owner, Shahnawaz Khan, and his family members .
- It is suspected that the victims may have been living in the building as squatters or that it was being used for illegal activities like drug manufacturing, though this remains speculative .
Government response:
- The Uttar Pradesh government has taken cognizance of the incident. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high-level investigation into the case .
- Senior officials, including the Police Commissioner and the District Magistrate, have visited the site to oversee the initial probe .
What we don’t know
How the victims died:
- While a fire is suspected, authorities are keeping all possibilities open. The remains have been sent for post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death .
- According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Raveena Tyagi, the investigation is in its preliminary stages, and the cause of death will be confirmed only after post-mortem reports and forensic analysis .
The identity of the victims:
- The victims have not yet been officially identified. The process of identification is ongoing .
- An official indicated that DNA samples would likely be needed for identification given the condition of the bodies .
Why they were in the building:
- The building was illegally constructed and sealed. It remains unclear whether the victims were living there, had broken in, or were using it for other purposes .
- The exact sequence of events leading to the fire and deaths is still under investigation .
The police have intensified their probe, and a forensic team is examining the site for clues. More details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses .
