Lucknow: A fierce blaze erupted in the early hours of Tuesday inside the labour quarters that form part of the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport complex. Thick, acrid smoke rolled across the site as flames licked the three‑storey structure.
Origin of the Fire
The dormitory, built by Tata Projects with PVC panel walls, houses roughly 352 construction workers engaged on airport projects. Initial reports suggest the fire started at about 6:30 a.m. when a labourer was cooking on a gas cylinder. The inferno spread rapidly through the building, threatening hundreds of occupants.
Rapid Evacuation of Residents
Once the alarm was raised, staff initiated an immediate evacuation. In a matter of minutes, occupants were guided out of the premises, preventing a potential tragedy. Two workers, identified as Nirmal and Rahul, suffered burn injuries while attempting to save personal belongings; they were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Firefighters Arrive in Force
The airport fire brigade deployed nine fire tenders to the scene. Crews faced a daunting challenge as the fire had already engulfed multiple sections of the three‑storey block. After sustained effort, they managed to contain the blaze. The ground and first floors incurred severe damage, while the upper levels also showed signs of scorching.
Numerous personal effects stored in the dormitory appear to have been destroyed, and a comprehensive assessment of property loss is currently underway.
Investigation Initiated
Police and airport security sealed off the area while rescue operations continued. Officers from Sarojini Nagar police station, led by Station House Officer Rajdev Prajapati, arrived to record statements and gather evidence. The precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities probing how the flames spread so quickly.
Thanks to the swift evacuation, no loss of life has been reported, turning what could have been a catastrophic incident into a narrowly avoided disaster.
