NEW DELHI: Four government officials have been suspended and four building owners arrested in connection with the devastating fire that tore through a three-storey commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area on Monday, killing 15 people and injuring several others.The Uttar Pradesh government said the suspensions were ordered on the directions of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. “On the directions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, four persons have been suspended with immediate effect. They are: Gaurav Kumar (Executive Engineer Collection of Electricity Department), Kamlendra Kumar Singh, FSSO (Fire Department) Indira Nagar, Anil Kumar AE (LDA), and Pramod Kumar JE(LDA),” the state government said in a statement.Police said four people, all joint owners of the building, have been arrested in connection with the incident. An FIR has been registered at Aliganj police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Act against six named persons and others.Authorities are also probing allegations that the building, approved for residential use, was being illegally used for commercial purposes. Aliganj ACP Shashi Prakash Mishra said the allegations are being investigated and appropriate action will be taken.Students trapped on second floorThe fire broke out on Monday afternoon in the building located on Usha Mehta Marg in north Lucknow. The structure housed an animation centre on the second floor, while a pet shop and a clinic operated on the lower floors.Most of the victims were students attending classes at the animation centre when the blaze engulfed the building. Eyewitnesses said several people jumped from the structure in a desperate attempt to escape as flames completely gutted the premises.Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have originated in the building’s AC duct. Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Energy Minister A K Sharma said the thick smoke caused suffocation and the absence of a proper exit route worsened the tragedy. He added that possible violations of building norms would be investigated.Rajnath visits site, promises accountabilityDefence minister Rajnath Singh visited the site soon after arriving in Lucknow and was briefed by Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. Speaking to reporters, Singh said CM Yogi Adityanath had assured that the incident would be thoroughly investigated. He said responsibility would be fixed for those found accountable and all necessary action would be taken.Describing the tragedy as “very unfortunate”, Singh expressed condolences to the bereaved families. The defence minister later visited King George’s Medical University (KGMU) to enquire about the condition of the injured. According to a statement issued by the Lucknow city unit of the BJP, he instructed doctors to ensure the patients received the best possible treatment.Before reaching Lucknow, Rajnath Singh spoke to Adityanath over the phone and was briefed on the entire sequence of events.“Briefing the defence minister on the entire sequence of events, chief minister Adityanath said that strict action is being taken against the guilty. An SIT has been constituted to investigate the incident. The team is to submit its report to the government within seven days,” the Lucknow city unit of the BJP said in a statement.The chief minister also informed Singh that the state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for seriously injured victims. He directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment and extend all possible assistance to those affected.(With inputs from PTI)