Lucknow: In the early hours of Tuesday a fierce fire broke out inside the labourer’s hostel situated within the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport complex. Thick, choking smoke rolled across the premises as flames raced up the three‑storey structure.
What Sparked the Conflagration
The dormitory, built by Tata Projects with PVC‑panelled walls, houses about 352 construction workers engaged on airport‑related projects. Initial investigations suggest the fire ignited at approximately 6:30 a.m. when a worker was using a gas cylinder for cooking. The blaze quickly spread, threatening hundreds of occupants.
Rapid Evacuation of Inhabitants
Once the alarm sounded, staff initiated an immediate evacuation. All residents were ushered out within minutes, averting a potential tragedy. Two workers, identified as Nirmal and Rahul, suffered burn injuries while attempting to salvage personal belongings; they were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Firefighters Arrive in Force
The airport’s fire brigade sent nine fire tenders to the scene. Crews confronted a daunting challenge as the fire had already consumed large portions of the ground and first floors, with the upper levels also showing signs of scorching. After sustained effort, they succeeded in containing the inferno.
A substantial amount of personal property stored in the hostel appears to have been destroyed, and a detailed valuation of the losses is currently underway.
Investigation Underway
Police and airport security cordoned off the area while rescue operations continued. Officers from Sarojini Nagar police station, led by SHO Rajdev Prajapati, arrived to record statements and gather evidence. The precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities probing how the flames were able to spread so rapidly.
Thanks to the swift evacuation, no fatalities have been reported, turning what could have been a catastrophic event into a narrowly avoided disaster.
