Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak broke down in tears while describing the aftermath of the devastating fire at an animation centre in Lucknow's Aliganj area that claimed the lives of 15 students on Monday. Speaking to reporters at the site, Pathak became visibly emotional as he recalled the horrific scene. "The fire broke out suddenly. The children appear to have run towards the back side to escape, but they couldn't survive. I saw 11-12 bodies with my own eyes," he said, his voice choked with emotion. A massive fire tore through a three-storey commercial building housing an animation centre in the residential Aliganj area of north Lucknow on Monday afternoon, trapping several people inside. Eyewitnesses said many occupants jumped from the building as flames rapidly engulfed the structure, which also housed a pet clinic. Fifteen people were killed in the blaze. The rescuer efforts continued for hours with fourteen fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, pressed into service to contain the fire, which was reported at around 3 pm from the building on Lucknow's Usha Mehta Marg.
