Mumbai: Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood has expressed grief over the demise of least 15 people in a blaze inside a building in Uttar Pradesh's capital city Lucknow, and called for stronger safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Taking to Instagram Stories Sood on Tuesday shared an emotional message mourning the loss of young lives in the incident.
"A classroom should nurture dreams, not become their final destination. Heartbroken by the Lucknow fire tragedy. So many young lives. So many dreams. Future officers, artists, leaders and changemakers whose journeys ended before they truly began. No words can ease the pain of the families who lost their children. My prayers are with them and with those fighting to recover. We owe these children more than our tears. We owe them safer spaces and stronger safety measures so that such tragedies never happen again," he wrote.
The actor's statement came as authorities intensified action following the devastating fire in the Aliganj area of Lucknow.
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said strict action was being taken against those responsible for the incident. He confirmed that arrests had already been made and officials suspended in connection with the case.
"Four people have been arrested since last night, and a few officials were also suspended. Based on the SIT report, strict action will be taken in this matter; no person will be spared," Pathak said.
Congress MP Jebi Mather also voiced concern over recurring fire-related tragedies and called for stronger accountability and preventive mechanisms.
"It is very unfortunate. Such things happen time and again- we saw it in Delhi, and now in Lucknow. What is the mechanism in place to keep a check on such incidents? The government should look into what went wrong and take a serious call to ensure such things do not repeat in any place," she told ANI.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Police have sealed the building in the Aliganj Police Station area where the fire occurred. Public entry has been prohibited as forensic experts and fire department teams prepare to gather evidence from the site.
A heavy police presence remains deployed around the building as investigations continue. Police have registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttar Pradesh Fire Service Act against six accused persons and other individuals deemed responsible.
According to eyewitnesses, panic spread through the building after the blaze broke out, with some occupants attempting to escape through windows and other exits. One person reportedly sustained serious injuries after jumping from the building.
Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the fire, and the investigation remains ongoing.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
