Two killed, several injured in Lucknow hotel blaze

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a high-level probe into the incident and visited the Civil Hospital where the injured were admitted. The injured will be treated for free, Adityanath said.

It is not yet clear whether the victims died due to burn injuries or suffocation, police sources said.

The fire likely broke out from the banquet hall on the first floor of the Levana Suites. At least seven people are admitted at the civil hospital, fire department and police sources said.

Chaos broke out in the area as several business establishments are located in the vicinity of the hotel.

Adityanath directed Commissioner Lucknow Division and Police Commissioner Lucknow to jointly probe the cause of the blaze.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that efforts were being made to establish the identity of those killed and added that stern action will be taken against whosoever is found guilty.

The sources said the fire broke out, possibly on the first or second floor of the hotel on Mahatma Gandhi Marg. "Rescue and relief operation is being carried out. The cause of the fire is still not known, they said.

They also said it is being suspected that the fire broke out from the banquet hall located on the first floor. Senior officers including District Magistrate Surya Pal Gangwar reached the spot immediately after the incident.

The DM said, "Around four to five persons have sustained injuries and have been taken to the Civil hospital. The hotel has 30 rooms of which 18 were occupied. It is being said that 30 to 35 people were present when the fire broke out."