Twin fires in city: Govt building and warehouse affected

Lucknow: Two fire incidents -- one at a govt building in Sarojini Naidu Marg and another at a junk warehouse in Sarojini Nagar-- were reported in the city on Tuesday.

The first fire broke out in the Economics and Statistics building located behind Yojana Bhawan in Sarojini Naidu Marg on Tuesday morning. The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in the washroom of the additional director's office on the second floor, quickly spread to the third floor.

Multiple documents and computer systems were destroyed in the fire. Locals alerted authorities after spotting smoke and flames, following which two fire engines from Hazratganj were dispatched. Fire officials doused the flames within half an hour.

In a separate incident, a massive fire erupted at a junk warehouse in Noorpur Bhadarsa under Sarojini Nagar police station limits early Tuesday.

About 40-50 labourers, who were sleeping behind the warehouse, had a narrow escape. The fire engulfed the basement, ground, and first floors, filled with junk material and foam mattresses.

Fire officer Sumit Pratap Singh and his team, supported by additional units from Hazratganj, Alambagh and PGI, worked for nearly five hours to douse the flames.

Chief fire officer Mangesh Kumar confirmed that no lives were lost in either incident, and emergency evacuation efforts ensured the safety of residents and workers.