At least two people were killed and seven others were injured in a massive fire that broke out at a hotel in the Hazratganj area of Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on Monday morning. As many as 15 fire tenders and 13 ambulances were rushed to the spot and a firefighting operation is underway.

Many guests and staff members were trapped inside Hotel Levana in Lucknow, when the fire broke out. Efforts are underway to evacuate the people trapped in the hotel rooms.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Fire breaks out at a hotel in Hazratganj in Lucknow. Efforts underway to evacuate the people in the hotel rooms. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/gxKy6oYyOO

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 5, 2022

Emergency relief teams broke windows of the hotel with iron rods to rescue people trapped inside.

The fire broke out on the third floor of the hotel. Around 35 to 40 people were present inside when a heavy cloud of smoke was spotted coming out of the hotel early on Monday morning.

According to Lucknow District Magistrate, Suryapal Gangwar, the fire is suspected to be caused by a short circuit, however, the actual reason behind the fire was yet to be ascertained.

The injured were taken to the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civil Hospital in Lucknow where two people were declared dead, while seven others are being treated for their injuries.

“So far seven people have been admitted. Two people, a man and a woman, were brought dead to the hospital,” Dr. RP Singh, Chief Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and directed the administration to carry out rescue operations. He directed that all facilities be provided to the injured, as well as prayed for their speedy recovery.

“The incident of fire in a hotel in the capital Lucknow is very sad. The concerned officers have been directed to reach the spot immediately and conduct relief and rescue operations expeditiously and provide all possible help to the affected. Praying to lord Ram for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Chief Minister said in a Tweet.

The Chief Minister has ordered that the Commissioner of Lucknow division and city police commissioner to jointly conduct an enquiry into the causes of the fire incident at the hotel. He also met the injured people admitted to civil hospital.

The Lucknow MP and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief over the incident. He tweeted that his office was continuously in touch with the administrative officials and was taking regular updates on rescue and relief work.

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