Lucknow | A suspended fire department official on Tuesday alleged that the chief fire officer (CFO) of Lucknow was primarily responsible for lapses linked to the fire tragedy in Aliganj that claimed 15 lives, and sought a review of the action taken against him.
Kamlesh Kumar Singh, a Fire Station Second Officer (FSSO) posted in Indira Nagar and who was suspended following the incident, released a video and a letter addressed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, claiming that the action against him was "unjust" as his role was limited to local inspections and reporting.
"I do not have the authority to grant fire clearances to buildings or enforce safety standards on a large scale," Singh said.
He alleged that the primary responsibility rested with the CFO, who oversees the city's fire safety system and is responsible for granting fire clearances to buildings.
"The building that was approved for residential use had been illegally used for commercial purposes for years. This fact should have been within the knowledge of the CFO," Singh alleged.
He further claimed that delays in firefighting operations and a lack of coordination after the blaze pointed to "direct negligence" on the part of the CFO.
Singh urged the state government to reconsider the action taken against junior officials and fix accountability on senior officers.
"I request that the action taken against officers like me be reviewed. The entire responsibility for the incident should be fixed on the Lucknow CFO and strict departmental and legal action should be initiated against him," he said, seeking justice and adequate compensation for the victims' families.
The allegations could not be independently verified and there was no immediate response from the fire department.
The video surfaced a day after the UP government suspended four officials in connection with the tragedy. Those suspended include Executive Engineer Gaurav Kumar of the Electricity Department, FSSO Singh, Lucknow Development Authority Assistant Engineer Anil Kumar and Junior Engineer Pramod Kumar.
Four persons have also been arrested regarding the incident. An FIR has been registered at Aliganj police station against six named individuals and others under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Act.
Officials have alleged that the building, approved for residential use, was being illegally used for commercial activities. The fire broke out on Monday afternoon at a three-storey building on Usha Mehta Marg in Aliganj that housed an animation centre on the upper floor and a pet shop and clinic on the lower floors.
Fifteen people were killed and several others were injured in the blaze. Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have originated in an air-conditioning duct, while authorities are probing possible violations of building and fire safety norms.
