LUCKNOW: Over 1,000 people, most of them migrant workers from nearby districts and other states, were rendered homeless after a devastating fire gutted over 280 shanties of their makeshift settlement in Sector 11 of Vikas Nagar area of Lucknow on Wednesday evening. However, no casualties were reported, confirmed Lucknow police commissioner, Amrendra Sengar.The blaze, which broke out around 5:30 pm, spread rapidly through the densely packed settlement, triggering a series of explosions as more than 50 LPG cylinders, kept in different shanties by residents, went off in succession. The shanties were illegally built on the land of Awas Vikas Parishad, as per district administration officials.After fire broke out, thick plumes of black smoke engulfed the skyline, visible from several kilometres away, underscoring the scale of destruction. Despite the intensity, officials confirmed that no casualties were reported.CM Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the incident and issued urgent directives to the district administration and emergency services. He instructed senior officials to immediately reach the site, closely monitor the situation, and ensure that relief and rescue operations are carried out on a war footing.CM emphasised the need for swift evacuation of affected residents, prompt medical assistance for the injured, and the provision of essential relief materials, including food, shelter, and basic necessities. He also directed authorities to maintain constant coordination among all agencies involved to bring the situation under control at the earliest and minimize further loss.Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak also visited the site and instructed authorities to intensify emergency response measures.Two nearby double-storey houses were also completely gutted. Teams from the fire department, police, district administration, along with NDRF and SDRF units, launched a massive rescue and firefighting operation. Around 20 fire tenders battled the flames for nearly three hours before bringing the situation under control.As panic gripped the area, authorities evacuated nearly 20 adjacent houses to prevent further loss of life. The incident also triggered massive traffic snarls across key stretches — from Samta Mulak crossing to Kukrail bridge, with ripple effects seen at Polytechnic crossing, Munshipuliya, and Engineering College areas for hours.Top officials, including Director General (Fire) Sujeet Pandey, police commissioner Amrendra Sengar, and DM Vishakh G, reached the spot to supervise rescue efforts and coordinate relief measures.Chief fire officer Ankush Mittal said the first call was received at 5:47 pm, after which firefighting units were rushed in phases as the blaze intensified.Preliminary findings suggest a possible short circuit that came into contact with a cooking gas cylinder, sparking the inferno, which then escalated due to the presence of multiple cylinders in the area.Eyewitness Ramesh Kumar, a driver from Sitapur who has lived in the settlement for the past 25 years, recalled the terrifying moment. “I had just returned home and was about to make tea when I heard loud explosions and felt a blast of hot air. Within seconds, flames engulfed everything,” he said.Tension briefly flared when some residents alleged foul play and clashed with locals from nearby colonies, even throwing stones. Police intervened and later controlled the situation.Most of the affected residents are migrant workers from districts like Sitapur and Barabanki, as well as states such as Assam, earning livelihoods as drivers, domestic helps, electricians, e-rickshaw drivers, and gig workers.The human toll of the disaster was visible in the grief of survivors. Shamshunisha, a resident, broke down saying, “My entire family was inside when the fire broke out. I don’t know where they are… my home is gone.”Prema, another victim, said, “My children’s clothes, our food grains — everything has burnt. We have nothing left.” Rafiq, a daily wager, added, “I had saved for my daughter’s wedding. Years of hard work vanished in minutes.” Sunita echoed the loss: “We escaped with our lives, but everything else is gone.”Around 50 animals, including cows, goats, and buffaloes, were injured in the massive fire, adding to the scale of devastation.DM Vishakh G said the fire had been largely contained and that affected families were being shifted to temporary shelters (rain baseras). Both food and clothing is being made ready for them. “Our priority is to provide immediate relief and rehabilitation,” he said.
