Inquiry ordered after building fire kills 15 in north India city

The victims included trainees and employees who were inside the building when the fire broke out, according to officials and relatives. "An inquiry has been initiated," Brajesh Pathak, deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, whose capital is Lucknow, told reporters. "Authorities have been directed to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future." The fire was reported at around 14:45 local time (09:15 GMT) on Monday in Lucknow's densely populated Aliganj area. The pet shop was on the ground floor, while the two floors above were occupied by the animation and 3D gaming centre, officials said. Flames and smoke engulfed the building's only staircase, cutting off the sole exit. Firefighters reached the terrace via a neighbouring building and breached a side wall to begin rescue efforts. Witnesses described scenes of panic as people trapped inside tried to escape the smoke. Some climbed down power cables, while others jumped from windows. Several were seen calling for help from inside the building, and dozens were injured. Anurag Ojha, who witnessed the fire, told BBC Hindi that people trapped inside were calling for help from the windows. "I was resting in my room and there was a foul smell outside. When I looked, there was a huge fire and people were crying for help," he said, adding how people in the area started throwing stones to break the glasses of the building so that more people could escape. …