Fire kills at least 14 in northern India commercial building

A fire tore through a commercial building in the northern Indian city of Lucknow on Monday, killing at least 14 people, most of them students, officials said.

The blaze broke out in the Aliganj neighbourhood in a building that housed a pet shop and veterinary clinic on the lower floors and a study centre and an animation studio above.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said 14 bodies had been recovered at the site, with at least 10 people rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Officials said firefighters had to force their way into the building by breaking through a rear wall after dense smoke hampered rescue efforts. They said exhaust fans were brought in to clear the smoke while emergency crews searched rooms and washrooms for survivors.